The EUROVINO Advisory Board

What makes this topic particularly special for you?

The topic of wine is naturally special to me, as I essentially absorbed it with mother's milk. My parents were winemakers, so a future without wine was unimaginable for me. It remains a beautiful subject for me even today – something I have never wanted to do without.

Wine is still a family affair for you...

Certainly, it is a significant challenge to ensure that the family business is carried forward with foresight by the next generation that is enthusiastic about it. My brother has two children who fit this description, both of whom have studied in Geisenheim and will be the future face of Rolf Willy. I am very pleased about that. The challenges nowadays are, of course, different than they were a few years ago. Back then, it was sufficient to produce good wine, be friendly, participate in fairs, and the business would run smoothly. Nowadays, with increased energy prices, it is also about securing the economic viability of the business, and that will be a major challenge for the future. There will be cutbacks for us too, but I see the Rolf Willy company well positioned. Change is constant, and we will have to adapt to it.

To what extent do environmental protection and sustainability play a role?

The issues of environmental and climate protection are omnipresent and very important. We cannot ignore these issues. In terms of overall sustainability, I would say we have been sustainable for many years. Fifteen years ago, we built the winery and already considered sustainable criteria such as short distances, energy efficiency, and resource optimization. For example, our fermentation cooling rooms were built into the ground, allowing us to utilize the natural climate from the earth. We use wells, including a sip well as a closed well-water circuit that is recycled for fermentation control, which is crucial. I believe that Rolf Willy embraced sustainability and energy efficiency 15 years ago when few were interested because we knew that saving energy also saves money and makes the operation more efficient. Climate protection and energy efficiency do not only occur in the vineyard but throughout the entire value chain. In my opinion, we are well positioned in this regard.

As a member of the advisory board for EV, why is EV important as a new trade fair?

I think it's important that we showcase a significant wine fair for German wines in Germany. Of course, not excluding foreign wines, but it needs to be overall manageable. We want to offer a fair in a beautiful setting where we can have conversations without rush and conduct good business in a relaxed atmosphere. We want to focus on the essentials.

What are you looking forward to, especially regarding EV 24?

Exactly what I just mentioned. We want to return to the essentials, which are communication, collaboration, and being together. If good business results from it, then we have a win-win situation, and everyone can be satisfied. All of this while enjoying a nice glass of wine in a beautiful region located in the center of the four largest German wine regions. I believe that this entire format can endure for the future – it's up to us. Let's make the best of it!

(Note: Recorded at the EUROVINO Pre-Event)

What makes the topic of wine particularly special for you? Where does your fascination for this subject come from?

Wine, unlike almost any other product, has the ability to reflect its geographical origin and the growth year. Good wine is characteristic of its location and the weather throughout the respective year. This uniqueness sets wine apart. Additionally, when enjoyed in moderation, wine has the power to uplift our minds and souls. Without wine, the world would be a bit poorer.

What is your favorite European wine?

Such a question is actually challenging to answer, given the multitude of favorite wines. However, one grape variety has captured my interest, and that is Riesling. Undoubtedly, it is the king of white wines for me. It has the capability to produce a variety of wines, each reflecting the ripening stages of grapes and berries during harvest.

With the plethora of European wine regions, do you have a favorite?

The love for wine is diverse. But specifically, I love exciting white wines from the heart of Europe and red wines from the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

Which wine-growing region in Europe do you currently consider a hidden gem or up-and-coming?

Climate change will favor new regions. While heat and water scarcity pose challenges to winemaking in some southern regions, new areas in the north will offer interesting and exciting wines.

What topics do you believe will most significantly impact the wine industry in the near future?

Two prominent themes stand out. Firstly, the aforementioned climate change poses new challenges to the global wine industry. Consider the devastating wildfires in California or the flood disaster in the Ahrtal, both affecting their respective wine regions. Water scarcity, extreme heat, and torrential rains with the risk of erosion of entire landscapes will increasingly threaten and transform winemaking. The second major theme is structural change, triggered by concentration in trade, leading to similar concentration processes on the production side. The wine world is expected to segment more strongly into small, individually operating wine producers and large, more industrially oriented structures.

You are the chairman of the advisory board for the EUROVINO trade fair, which will take place for the first time in 2024. What are you looking forward to most regarding the premiere in March 2024?

My excitement is already significant in light of the visible support for EUROVINO, which provides a relevant marketplace in the heart of Europe for exhibitors and visitors at affordable conditions and reasonable effort. Of course, I am looking forward to many exciting encounters with friends and engaging conversation partners, as well as discovering the fantastic wines and offerings at EUROVINO. The first months will set the course for the rest of the year, and EUROVINO presents the best opportunity for wine producers and marketers on the exhibitor side, as well as for trade and gastronomy professionals.

What makes the subject of wine special for you? Where does your fascination for this subject come from?

Growing up in a wine region, but not on a vineyard, I was fascinated by the diversity of the wine world from an early age. That includes the winegrowers with their own personal stories and styles, the way the wines are marketed, the different bottle designs and, of course, the variety of wines. It never ceases to amaze me how multifaceted grape varieties are. As one grape variety can be vinified in different ways, the subject never gets boring.

What is your favourite European wine?

That’s a difficult question to answer. But I do like fruity, light white wines from Germany, especially the new aromatic PIWIs.

With so many European wine-growing regions - do you have a favourite?

No, but I do really like local wines from Germany.

You are the managing director of ECOVIN Bundesverband Ökologischer Weinbau. What are the issues that are of particular concern to you and your members at the moment?

Like the entire wine industry, our wineries are feeling the effects of climate change. Wine-growing years are always extreme, with sometimes months of drought, then wet and humid summers, late frosts, hail or heavy rain. So how can organic viticulture cope with this and be economically viable in the future? With new strategies and cultivation methods, we try to keep the consequences of climate change as minimal as possible. This includes, among other things, the cultivation of PIWIs.

Against the background of the current economic situation, we are of course also concerned with the marketing of our members' artisan wines. Therefore, we are really looking forward to EUROVINO.

What makes a sustainable wine?

For us, the basis of a sustainable wine is always its EU organic certification. Climate and resource protection go hand in hand with economic viability and social responsibility.

You are an advisor to EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO important/relevant as a new trade fair format?

Small wineries cannot cope financially with the big trade fair circus but, at the same time, are looking for new ways to market their artisan wines. With its reusable exhibition stands, EUROVINO offers a sustainable and cost-effective way for such businesses to present themselves.

What are you particularly looking forward to with regard to EUROVINO 2024?

I'm looking forward to welcoming "new" faces that haven’t yet been seen because the old fairs were too big for them. We guaranteee the discovery of quite a few exciting wineries at the fair.

What makes the subject of wine special for you? Where does your fascination for this subject come from?

The inscrutability and profundity of wine have fascinated me for many years. It is amazing how winegrowers all over the world work hand in hand with nature, give expression to an origin and bring forth wines in all possible facets and qualities – it’s a truly never-ending story.

What is your favourite European wine?

Picking out a favourite wine is somewhat contrary to my nature as a wine woman, especially because I am always happy to discover something new and unusual, preferably without borders and prejudices. This is also true for me when it comes to finishing: great classics make it into my glass just as often as natural and orange.

With so many European wine-growing regions - do you have a favourite?

The question is more about what a woman would never say no to. Champagne is very popular with me, but also Burgundy and mature Bordeaux, not to mention great Rieslings and Chenin Blancs. I wouldn’t want to commit myself to a specific wine-growing region, and not only to Europe.

Which wine-growing region in Europe is still an insider tip for you/is on the rise?

I still think there is a lot to discover in Portugal. I find Bairrada particularly exciting because the Baga grape variety provides a beguiling range - from sparkling wine to great red wine. But I always find it appealing to take a closer look at a classic wine-growing region from a new perspective. The most recent ones for me were Bordeaux and Piedmont. Another insider tip for me at the moment is certain sparkling wines from Germany and Trentino, as here there has been a lot of movement in the sparkling scene.

Which topics/trends do you think will occupy the wine industry most in the near future?

The answer to that is how best we can persuade consumers to dig a little deeper into their pockets for natural and artisanal wines. They have to understand that they are not a luxury. They must feel that by doing so, they are committing themselves to the preservation of a craft, small and medium-sized enterprises and the cultural landscape.

You are an advisor to EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

As an entrepreneur from Karlsruhe, I believe that the location at the centre of several European wine-growing regions offers great advantages. The Palatinate, Baden, Württemberg, Alsace and many more are only an hour's drive away.

What are you particularly looking forward to with regard to EUROVINO 2024?

What I'm most looking forward to is the opportunity for the wine world to meet in Karlsruhe and that the trade fair will focus on wine. Like art.karlsruhe, EUROVINO can also become a model for success.

What makes the topic of wine special for you and where does this fascination come from?

Wine has always been a big part of my life. My father loved French red wines and passed on his passion to me.

What is your favourite European wine?

I have a number of favourite wines: some from Germany but particularly Viognier from the Rhône, Arneis from Piedmont and Albariño from Rias Baixas.

With so many European wine regions to choose from, do you have a favourite?

No, I don't have a favourite. All growing areas have something special to offer, which is what makes them so appealing.

Which wine-growing region in Europe is currently on the up?

Romania.

What role does climate and environmental protection play in the creation of wine? Has your product range changed in this respect in recent years, or is it likely to?

Organic is a growing part of our range, not least due to the increasing number of winegrowers who have converted to organic cultivation.

You are an advisory board member of EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

It is a format that is specifically aimed at European producers and also offers smaller wineries the opportunity to present themselves.

What makes the topic of wine special for you and where does this fascination come from?

I’m the son of a wine merchant and, to me, there is something delightfully natural about a glass of wine. But the incredible diversity of the subject is endlessly fascinating too.

What is your favourite European wine?

German Riesling

With so many European wine regions to choose from, do you have a favourite?

No – that would be impossible. My preferences change depending on the occasion, the mood and the season. Here, too, it's diversity that inspires me.

Which wine-growing region in Europe is currently on the up?

Perhaps out of personal attachment, I would recommend the south of France (Languedoc-Roussillon) as a region to keep on the radar.

What makes a sustainable or organic wine?

The organic winemaker sees his vineyards as part of a large, interconnected ecological system. The focus of his work is not the vine as a monoculture, but its integration into a natural cycle. A certified organic wine requires renunciation of chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, and there are also stricter rules for organic wines in the cellar. Ideally, the result is exciting wines with a strong character that reflects their origin.

What other aspects are important to your customers when buying wine?

In addition to product quality, many of our customers appreciate our way of doing business. In addition to our focus on 100% organic, social commitment and sustainability have always been an integral part of our philosophy. We are careful to consider and develop the totality of our actions and their effects, and not focus on individual product chains or lighthouse projects. For this, we receive a lot of recognition. In December, for example, we were awarded the Environmental Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg for our in-house environmental protection, as well as our exemplary environmentally oriented corporate management.

You are an advisory board member of EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

I am a great fan of trade fair concepts that focus on the essentials. EUROVINO is oriented towards the interests of its visitors and exhibitors, and therefore I very much support its future relevance.

What makes the topic of wine special for you and where does this fascination come from?

At the age of just 26, I started my own business and became a wine wholesaler. As I learned about the business, marketing and target groups were the focus – more so than the wine. It was only later, when I started travelling to different regions, that something changed in me. The cultural landscapes, the special climates, the cuisine of these regions and, of course, the people behind the wines showed me that everything works in harmony. Every region, every wine and every producer all have an individual story. I think it is this that still touches me today and continues to be endlessly fascinating.

What is your favourite European wine?

It’s virtually impossible to name a "favourite" wine. For the last 30 years, I‘ve been saying that life is about trying new things and I love making new discoveries. That’s why a "favourite" wine would be one that I can tell other people about with passion and enthusiasm. I also like a wine that surprises me – maybe a discovery on a wine trip or the company in which I can enjoy it. Obviously, the company is important, as I do not drink wine alone.

With so many European wine regions to choose from - do you have a favourite?

My response would be similar to the "favourite wine" question. I want to try lots of new things. However, there are a few regions that I fall back on when choosing something special for a celebration, for example. For sparkling wine, it's the Loire, for red wine, I like the Rhône Valley, and I enjoy whites from northern Italy.

Which wine-growing region in Europe is currently on the up?

I was in Croatia last year (not by the sea but in Zagreb and the surrounding area) and enthusiastically tasted and got to know quite a few wines. I also sampled new wines during a specialist study trip through Switzerland, but not many are available to buy. This year I am planning a wine trip to Georgia and am already very excited about what I may discover. In northwestern Poland (south of Szczecin), an organic Riesling surprised me. I am very interested in what is happening in the "cool north" too. Climate change and new grapevine varieties make it possible that viticulture will become an option in regions where hardly anyone has thought of it so far. Here, I would like to see Piwi varieties gain traction too.

You coach employees from the hospitality and retail industries on all aspects of wine, but also on topics such as "Dealing well with customers/guests" and "Appreciative communication". So which topics are currently the most popular?

Good manners and appreciative communication in business have never gone out of fashion. I’ve been involved in "hospitality" for 10 years and the attitude we adopt when we play the role of host is crucial. When hosts see their customers as "guests", the interpersonal interaction is always appreciated. My role as a trainer is to develop such interactions into workable forms of behaviour which can then be successfully applied in the workplace.

You are an advisory board member of EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

Times have been changing for a while, with the era of "navel-gazing" gradually coming to an end. There is now no such thing as "business as usual“, and bigger, cheaper offerings are not the way forward.

EUROVINO at the Karlsruhe trade fair location will focus on the product and the exchange surrounding it. In this context, sustainability and economic efficiency are not a contradiction, but rather the "heart and soul" of the event. I think exhibitors will find it easy to participate in the trade fair thanks to a fair price/performance ratio and a transparent cost structure. Very good general conditions allow for flexible planning too. We’re looking forward to getting to know vintners who have thus far never exhibited at such an event.

Such clear and open communication will allow visitors to use the exhibition as a meeting place, where they can have meaningful discussions and make useful new contacts.

What are you particularly looking forward to with regard to EUROVINO 2024?

Sustainability is the next big topic for our industry. What this means for the sector will be in evidence at EUROVINO, and I‘m pleased about that. But I'm also looking forward to Karlsruhe, a weloming city within easy reach of several growing regions. I like the beautiful, modern exhibition center too. As co-organizer of the Fair Wine Award, I am of course also very pleased that we will be able to reveal the winners at EUROVINO.

What makes the topic of wine special for you and where does the fascination come from?

Winemaking is in my heart and soul. As the son of a first generation organic winemaker, nature is very close to my heart, along with the further development of organic viticulture with Piwis.

What is your favorite European wine?

Pinot gris from the Kaiserstuhl!

With so many European wine regions to choose from, do you have a favourite?

Baden Kaiserstuhl, for sure.

Your focus is on organic viticulture, so to what extent have the framework and requirements for this changed recently?

The demands on crop protection have increased dramatically due to global warming. That is why I fully rely on PIWIs, as their use allows for a pesticide reduction of 80%.

What role do vegan wines, natural wines and Piwis play for you and your customers?

My organic wines are all vegan but do not come with a label. For me, sustainability labels are much more important. That’s why my winery and private winery Kiefer has been Fair Choice certified since 2022. Schmidt has been Ecovin certified since 1992. My new project, Piwi Collective, has also been Fair Choice certified since 2022. Natural wines are available at Schmidt. They are and remain a niche, yet for winemakers and consumers, they are ultra-exciting and give new impetus to viticulture. Piwis are the future of viticulture for me, with 25% of our organic range already converted. With the Piwi Collective, we want to massively push the topic.

You are an advisory board member of EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

The wine industry needs an innovative new platform where smaller players feel comfortable and future topics can be highlighted.

What are you particularly looking forward to with regard to EUROVINO 2024?

A lively exchange about new concepts and ideas.

What makes the topic of wine special for you and where does this fascination come from?

Good wine is an expression of terroir, people and culture. The wine world is colourful and full of people who take pleasure in it. In this context, it’s important to me that the good producers respect nature and continue to interpret it in new ways each year.

What is your favourite European wine?

That’s not easy – Pinot Noir from Burgundy and my native Baden, Champagne, Rieslings from exceptional sites in Germany, wines from Etna in Sicily and Chardonnays from Burgundy, the Jura and Baden. I also enjoy top wines from the Ribera del Duero, Chenin Blanc from the Loire and Blaufränkisch and Lemberger, if the winemakers know what they are doing.

With so many European wine regions to choose from - do you have a favourite?

Baden, Burgund, Champagne, Etna and Ribera del Duero .

Which wine-growing region in Europe is currently on the up?

Oltrepò Pavese, Etna, Jura and Ortenau.

Which topics and trends do you think will impact the wine industry most in the near future?

Changes in climate and consumer behaviour, i.e. drinking less but demanding better quality, and questioning where the wine comes from and how it is made.

You are an advisory board member of EUROVINO, which will take place for the first time in 2024: Why is EUROVINO relevant as a new trade fair format?

EUROVINO will be a modern European wine fair. It fills a gap in the trade fair calendar by providing an event that is the perfect format for both exhibitors and buyers.