An Insight Into A Wine Tourism Press Trip. A Week in Germany
I went on a wine tourism trip and attended the biggest wines & spirits fair. Content creators often get invited or arrange their own trips to expand their horizons as well as get more stories. As a Wines & Spirits Journalist, I aim to travel to different winemaking countries to see what they are about. I had heard that Messe Dusseldorf would be organising a reputable event called Prowein. Prowein is the biggest international wines & spirits fair. This event was the place to be for wine and spirits professionals from all over the globe. I had to be there!
Hello Dusseldorf
Arriving at Dusseldorf Airport, I could tell that many people were heading in for the 3-day fair. I even met a South African winemaker as we were queuing at the passport control and immigration check-up points. Coming from Kenya, you can imagine the kind of warm and sunny weather I left, only for me to be greeted by -4°C weather and snow. I hopped in a cab and directed the driver to drop me at the Oscar Wilde Hotel Ship which would be my home for the next few days.
Because the hotel ship is located on the Rhine River, a taxi can only go so far and one has to walk for a short distance. My taxi driver was in an unbelievable rush to get rid of me and he hustled me to hurry up with payment and getting out of the car. He placed my suitcase on the snow-covered sidewalk, said something in German and drove away fast. He even gave me a strange look as if to say, “Why is your suitcase so big? I am sorry but you are on your own”.
I felt my heart sink, I was so alone. There was no one to help me. There were people on the street but they all gave me puzzled looks. I refused to let this moment discourage me. I had not come all the way to let one cab driver ruin my mood. I opened my suitcase and got a jacket and scarf and slowly pulled (and even lifted) my overpacked suitcase down the steep stairs. Soon after, a stranger came by and helped me. He was an old man who did not understand any English but I said “Danke” almost a million times to appreciate his generosity.
Later that day, I met up with a friend of mine called Lena who took me to “The Longest Bar” in Dusseldorf town for some beer and orientation. We had an early night because the next day would be the official opening of Prowein.
I took this photo on another sunny day but this is where I was pulling my suitcase. On the arrival day, it was covered in snow
This is where the cab left me and I had to descend some stairs and walk to the ship
The hotel entrance
Prowein in all its glory
I walked to the Messe Dusseldorf area where the fair was happening. There were halls with different wine producing countries. For example, Wines of Austria had their hall. It was like the Superbowl of the beverage industry. The statistics were alarming. There were 6,870 companies and wineries exhibiting, 60,000 visitors and attendees from 133 countries.
The fair entrance
On the first day, I just took everything in. I had scheduled some appointments and after that, I started exploring the booths. Every booth was unique. It was as if they were trying to outdo each other. There was a whole section dedicated to champagne. The spirits were not left out either.
Wines of Slovenia and Wines of Georgia
Wines of Austria. Each major wine producing country had a hall
Zooming in to the booths
The most interesting hall was “Same But Different” Hall 7 which was dedicated to handcrafted beer and spirits. Here we saw craft gin, “wine beer”, craft whisky, craft cider, aperitifs among other beverages. I tasted so many wines.
Craft Gin
Craft Beer
Wine Tourism With Wines of Germany
After that, I got to be on a press trip with 19 other wine writers and journalists from all over the world. I left the hotel and hauled my suitcase again up that snowy staircase to the road and headed to the fair for the last day. At noon, we all had lunch and put our luggage on a bus and prepared for the next adventure. Wines of Germany took us to the Nahe and Ahr Region where we met winemakers, toured vineyards and tasted more wines for the next few days. When it comes to grape varieties, Riesling is Germany’s white star while Pinot Noir is the red star. We got to taste different Riesling and Pinot Noir wines.
During a Pinot Noir tasting
The food: Mashed potatoes, steak and vegetables
Out in the vineyards
Here I was attempting to take an Instagram-worthy picture
383 Wines Tasted.
By the time Prowein and my press trip was over, I had tasted a total of 383 wines in a week. I had taken notes and I had some favourites should I encounter them again in life. And if you are wondering if we ever get drunk, we often spit our wines into containers called spittoons during these tastings. These containers are on every table. I always hated spitting out my wine (or watching someone do it) but I am used to now. This ensures that you are not swallowing any wine and getting drunk as this affects your senses. However, I got myself a bottle and enjoyed some great Pinot Noir on the last dinner.
The glassware was also amazing
Wines I tasted at Prowein
More wine
During & After Press Trips
As journalists and content creators, during press trips, we get to multitask. I was tasting wine, writing, filming, taking photos and posting on social media. All this, and I still wanted to immerse myself in the experience while remaining present. After some time, you learn to find a balance. Rather than spreading yourself too thin, you get to know how to focus on the things that matter. I filmed,took photos,tasted wines and I compiled my content at night and on the bus. I had a 10-hour layover when flying back and I wrote some of my stories then. Now to edit the numerous videos I took.
On the last day was a nice sunset
Are you a content creator? Have you been on a reporting trip? Any tips you can add on how you balance all of it?
Authored by @jeanwandimi
Photography by @jeanwandimi
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Thank you!
woooah this a great travelblog. personally, i love wine it helps our body eliminates fats. you have a great travel picture as well. I need to take a look on your future blog often. Great traveler😂😂😂
I am glad you liked it. Cheers!
Germany has nice wine tradition after Romans
Oh yes, though I am not a wine lover myself. I don't even know about them that much, but reviews about how some of the finest wines on the planet are in Germany abounds everywhere online.
Are you a wine lover yourself @dogimage? Have you been to Germany? If ever I get the opportunity to visit that country one day, I'll make sure I taste any wine I can lay my hands on.
I agree @dogimage I learned so much during this trip.
@adsactly, Your wine tourism trip was excellent . I can understand seeing your beautiful photography , This trip was a very enjoyable for you. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us.
This is so nice..
Oh lawd! When Will I have this opportunity😓
Very soon. It will be soon.
Amen! This I pray.🙏
Being in such an event and being able to enjoy good wines, you spent a great week ...
Best week of my life..
Thank you for sharing and so enjoy through the experience that is not known Germany, please continue to enjoy your travel ...
This travel very beautiful, I like it.
I appreciate your valuable Post
Thanks for sharing this germany........
Great post! Very nice photography and awesome place germany that is why germany is a tourism country.I upvote you.Enjoy your trip.
I am glad you liked my photos and post. Thanks.
The picture reminds me of stay in S/A during a recent tourism tour..i call it wine and travel...
Isn't it the best thing ever?
Germany is a beautiful tourism country....
Excellent travelling post and also with wine.....I appreciate this.....
Upvote done...... @adsactly
das deutsche Volk liebt es zu reisen und der Deutsche ein außergewöhnliches Land danke
👍👍
I visited Germany 🇩🇪 many times over the years, yet I had no idea about their wine industry. Thank you educating us!
Now when you visit again, make sure to take a small trip down to the wineries.
Thanks for sharing this germany travel.
I appreciate your valuable post..........
Wow! Its truly beautiful in your side of the world.. keep posting! 😊
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful info. Always heard of German wines.. Guess you enjoyed your stay? Kudos
Thanks friend.
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This is nice.......So Germany has a wine tourism
beautiful post. I love Germany. I love wines from Germany
Wow! What a trip!
Wonderful writing, very nicely done. I suspect, had it been me, I'd have had 383 bullet points in my post :)
Thanks for letting us tag along on your journey.
Thank you @bigtom13 I love your pieces too. I tried to condense the information. Cheers!
Great experience! you obviously have some good time as I scroll down looking on all of your images. Expecting, in the future I may visit some F1 Race somewhere in the world.
Thanks for the kind words an I pray that your dream happens!
You have visited German and enjoyed a lot in vine parties ..it's awesome for me if i was also there ... Great Phootgraphy Awesome Views
Thanks. Germany is amazing.
Wow, this is really interesting. The wine tasting seems fun.
It is actually very fun and educative.
Wow very nice
I also want to travel there
Wonderful experience, beautiful photos, be in love with such a great German tradition. Thank you.
The boat is so cool :)
This was particularly amazing and entertaining. It made me do travel hungry.
I hope you get to do a food & wine trip soon.
I will always follow you adsactly, because your posts are very interesting
The fair is so big. I have known a big fair in China. Maybe this one is Germany is bigger
Yes they have Prowein Asia but this one was bigger. Cheers!
Somewhere to visit if/when we ever get to Germany. My husband came to the US from Köln, but I know he’s never been to the places in your article.
I am glad that I could show you the places I visited. You two should visit.
We’d love to – my husband, who is much younger than all his other five siblings, desperately misses his two aging brothers who live in Köln. Even if we could somehow afford it, travel is difficult and probably unwise for my Iranian-American husband (who is a naturalized US citizen) and our son, who is by default also Iranian-American even though he was born in the States (because Iran automatically confers citizenship upon any children of native-born Iranians). That whole dual citizen visa-waiver exclusion mess is bad enough, but the ongoing travel ban court struggles makes it conceivable that if we did travel out of the States, my husband might be denied reentry because he visited his family in Iran within that five year window.
Your last day is veery best moment in your trip
Can see Good sunset view making feell freedom for me
That sunset was breathtaking.
Nice picture & Good Job
Thanks.
It would be crazy to go to Germany, it is a wonderful country, I am in love with your photographs, you've hooked me, I'm your new fan
I really hope you get to visit. This was my first time and I had a blast.
Nice post thanks @cryptonoticias
Beautiful post~ I want to go to Germany in the fall of 2018 !! ^^
I hope you get to go. Good luck.
You mentioned above that content creators get invited there, how will content creator get invited, Can you please explain.?
As a wine journalist, how do you want to explain about the wine making companies or what they are about.?
Thank you for letting us know about the famous international wine fair, prowein ; i wish i could be there once while i complete my graduation.
Did not you feel so cold there ? As i have read that kenya is located on equator, receives sunlight directly.I also read that kenya is a country with 70% christian people, is it so.?
What was the press trip about ?
Hey. Thanks for your question. Normally, because of my blog and the work I do around wine education, brands get to know what I do and they contact me to write these stories on my blog.
With regards to the cold, I was freezing so much. It was actually my first time to see snow and to experience real winter.
Congratulations @adsactly!
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Very detailed article, nice and refreshing.