The EUROVINO Advisory Board

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.

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

The pre-event on March 6, 2023, where we will provide an insight into EUROVINO 2024 and how special the event will be.