On November 20, 2024, the “West Wine Story”, an important industry meeting for the Austrian wine industry, took place at the Congress Innsbruck. Over 70 wineries presented more than 280 wines, including white wines, red wines, rosés and sparkling wines.
The event offered around 300 trade visitors from the catering, hotel, retail and press sectors a platform for networking and tasting. The trade fair was organized by the Austrian Wine Marketing GmbH (ÖWM), which focuses on the quality and variety of domestic wine.
A special highlight were master classes, including one by Willi Balanjuk, who highlighted the potential of Austrian rosé and red wines. The event was moderated by ORF presenter Rainer Pariasek, who was also named “Wine Person of the Year 2025.” The “Wirtshausführer Weinwirte 2025” also received awards, including the “Dresch” in Erl, Tyrol, and other outstanding establishments from across Austria.
According to AWMB Managing Director Chris Yorke, wine and cuisine are indispensable components of Austrian hospitality. He emphasised the role of wine as a flagship for Austria's tourism, especially in the winter season. The event underlined the importance of the West as a market for domestic wines and enabled experts to exchange trends and knowledge.
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