Wine Paris drew over 63,000 visitors from around the globe to the French capital this year. Austrian Wine Marketing (ÖWM) marked the first international highlight for Austrian wine with a major showcase.
Wine Paris, held from February 9 to 11, 2026, has firmly established itself as one of the world’s most important wine fairs. Austria took center stage in Hall 4 with a joint presentation organized by ÖWM and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. A total of 143 Austrian wineries showcased around 1,300 wines across 900 square meters—well above last year’s 89 exhibitors.
There were many overseas importers at the fair, and our stand welcomed significantly more visitors than in 2025. This opened up numerous opportunities for contacts and discussions—let's see which ones bear fruit.
— winemaker Johanna Markowitsch, Carnuntum
In addition to showcasing the new 2025 vintage, the ÖWM stand highlighted a series of pop-up seminars, tastings, and masterclasses. The standout session The Thousand and One Faces of Austrian Whites featured top French sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier, who demonstrated the remarkable diversity of Austrian white wines. International experts—including Master Sommelier Stefan Neumann, Master of Wine and Falstaff Editor-in-Chief Romana Echensperger, and ASI World Champion Sommelier Raimonds Tomsons—shared insights on pivotal topics in Austrian winemaking. A dedicated tasting area offered a rotating focus each day, giving visitors a comprehensive experience.
Two ÖWM campaigns also drew significant attention: Environmental Awareness in Austrian Viticulture and the globally unique Red White Rosé initiative, aimed specifically at engaging younger wine consumers.
The first major international showcase for Austrian wine in 2026 was a great success at Wine Paris. The next key milestone will be ProWein in Düsseldorf this March, leading up to VieVinum in Vienna in May, which remains the highlight of the Austrian wine calendar.
—ÖWM Managing Director Chris York
