Following the success of the 1st edition, the Piedmont Wine Consortium is returning to Vienna on Monday, January 13th, 2025, with the second edition of the Barolo & Friends event, aiming to create new business opportunities for Piedmontese companies.
The Austrian wine market is mature and sophisticated, although competitive, and high income levels allow a significant proportion of consumers to opt for higher-quality products where price is not the decisive factor in purchasing. Moreover, the growing appreciation of wine among young people is promising for positive developments.
The event is aimed at both companies seeking an importer and wineries that are already imported, and will facilitate meetings with local industry operators such as importers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, journalists, and selected wine lovers.
PROGRAM
- 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM: Welcome and Seminar for Producers: Focusing on the Austrian Market
- 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Masterclass for Trade Professionals led by Walter Kutscher – “Barolo & Friends: Piedmont’s Greatest Appellations”
- 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Walk-around Tasting Exclusive to Trade: Ho.re.ca, Importers, Sommeliers, and Industry Press
- 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Walk-around Tasting Reserved for Select Wine Lovers
Why Austria?
- After a successful 2023 with a 6.6% growth in Italian wine imports in Austria, reaching €31.4 million, the future looks bright.
- Austrians consume slightly more wine than they produce locally, thus creating opportunities for international wine trade. It is a market that is attentive to quality: the excellence of wine is deeply rooted in Austrian culture.
- Piedmontese wines, particularly the most prestigious such as Barolo and Barbaresco, are very popular among Austrian consumers who are also rediscovering other quality denominations from our region such as Barbera and Grignolino.
- Austria’s high per capita income allows consumers to purchase wine focusing on quality and typicity, which provides an opportunity to present and promote the most prestigious and qualitatively recognized productions of our region.
