Wine Paris, organized by Vinexposium—the world’s leading wine and spirits event organizer—remains the premier global trade fair for the industry. Held annually at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, it brings together thousands of exhibitors (over 6,500 in 2026!), producers, buyers, and professionals from dozens of countries for three intense days of tastings, masterclasses, B2B meetings, and high-stakes networking. It’s far more than a show—it’s the ultimate barometer of global wine trends, influence, and innovation, drawing massive crowds and transforming Paris into the epicenter of the wine world.
This was my first year working behind the Wine of Austria stand, and let me tell you—it’s a completely different experience from just attending. Instead of wandering the aisles as a visitor, I was right there in the heart of it: interviewing the producers, tasting their wines straight from the source, hearing their unfiltered stories up close, and watching them light up as they shared their journeys with new clients, curious enthusiasts, sommeliers, and buyers from around the world. There’s something profoundly unforgettable about being the bridge—pouring a glass, starting a conversation, and seeing eyes widen as someone truly connects with the wine and the person behind it. The vulnerability, the pride, the quiet triumphs in those exchanges—it all felt raw and real. Being part of that energy, day after day, left me buzzing long after the lights went down.
The energy at the Wine of Austria stand was palpable: the room crackled with unfiltered intensity—sharp conversations, fearless pours, and producers dropping raw truths about what makes these wines so genuinely provocative. Their bottles cut straight through the clutter—bold, unapologetic, demanding attention—while every glass sparked real, electric connections, channeling raw passion directly from vineyard terroir to the table, no compromises allowed.
The labels whisper personal stories, carrying the artistic touch of generations past and turning each bottle into a true family heirloom. Beneath them lie the souls of winemakers and their ancestors, with each vine rooted in history stretching back over 600 years. These producers are guardians of legacy. One remembers childhood footsteps between the rows; another draws strength from her mother stepping into her own, finding peace in nature’s rhythm and transforming small-family silence into vibrant, soul-stirring wines. Multi-generational hands keep traditions alive while infusing fresh passion into every harvest. From the fiery reds of Burgenland to the mineral-crisp whites of Wachau, it’s all about passing the torch: bottling emotion, memory, heritage, and that unbreakable bond between family and soil.
Hearing these producers share their worlds in their own words was one of the most powerful parts of the fair. Here are some of the standout moments:
- Christian (Nastl) on his deep nostalgia for the winery: “The view of the river, the sun rising, and the sound of tractors—the reward is the harvest, the kids eating the grapes.” He hopes his children have the freedom of choice to follow their own path, and he’s eyeing a visit to English wine country like Heron Hills to dive deeper into sparkling wine and learn more.
- Pia (Pia Strehn) on her bold label choice: The elephant is a symbol for luck—she chose it for her label when she changed to rosé “because I needed all the luck possible.”
- Gregor (Weingut Gregor Schup) on the inspiration of the artwork of their labels – Inspiration comes from wines worldwide, but we remember them through the art, not just the variety. “The label captures our family and the passion behind every bottle”
- Rudi (Hagn) on his role in the family legacy: “I have been with the family for 10 years and consider myself a storyteller of the Hagn family.”
- Stefan (Liechenstein) on the essence of their wines: “Their wines have a sense of place and are meant to be shared.”
- Christoph (PMC Münzenrieder) on what makes their wines unique: “The mica schist soil is what imparts the beautiful salinity and acidity naturally that makes their wines so unique.”
Each of these wineries has a story to share, each unique and personal:
- Pia Strehn (Burgenland): Pleasure, Happy, Sophisticated & Long Lasting
The rosé queen and renegade who sparked a full-blown revolution in Austria by shifting her mother’s Blaufränkisch winery from reds to rosé—pushing boundaries with character-driven, barrel-fermented statements and crisp, no-nonsense pinks that flip the script on what rosé can be. Provocative, fearless, and utterly addictive. - Nastl (Kamptal, Lower Austria): Honest, clear, appetizing, optimistic
Kamptal’s Grüner Veltliner masters, crafting fresh, fruity precision with zero fluff—sensitivity meets time-honored grit in wines that hit hard with clarity and bite, refusing to play it safe in a sea of sameness. - PMC Münzenrieder (Neusiedlersee, Burgenland): Salty, new world burgundy style, elegant fruity and gastronomy
Mineral-driven beasts from the national park heartland—Christoph Münzenrieder’s hand turns sun-soaked reds, whites, and noble-sweet stunners into terroir bombs. Sweet Winemaker of the Year cred? They don’t just push edges; they redefine them. - Hagn (Weinviertel, Lower Austria): Clean, straightforward, drinkability fun in the glass
Family legacy with a modern snarl—generations of grit meet fresh blood, delivering structured, no-holds-barred wines that balance tradition’s weight with bold, contemporary fire. Uncompromising and always evolving. - Weingut Gregor Schup (Thermenregion): Family, legacy and modern
Sixth-generation rebels rooted in 300+ years of history, expanding from tiny plots to serious acreage—wines full of soul, loyalty to the land, and a defiant streak that turns every sip into a story of unyielding tradition meets raw ambition. - Weingut Liechtenstein (Lower Austria, including Wilfersdorf): Legacy, historical, freshness
Princely pedigree with zero pretense—terroir-obsessed, finely chiseled single-vineyard Pinots, Riesling/Grüner Veltliner blends, and cuvées from vaulted cellars dating back centuries. Heritage that hits hard, elegant yet unrelenting. - Ettl (Neusiedlersee, Burgenland): Organic trailblazers who ditched the conventional playbook decades ago—authentic, character-packed locals from lake-side soils, proving purity and provenance can be fiercely provocative without compromise.
- Aiger (Kremstal, Lower Austria): Purists since 1773—Grüner Veltliner and Riesling specialists delivering full-bodied lightness with razor-sharp expression. Maturity meets edge: wines that demand respect and refuse to whisper.
Why chase this endless story? To preserve what came before, to hand it forward, and to let every sip echo centuries of love for the land. Thank you to everyone who showed up with curiosity, shared wines and zero pretense—you elevated the entire experience.
To these producers who bring the real edge, and to every palate that tasted it: this is only the beginning.
Here’s to fearless pours, boundary-pushing bottles, and collaborations that refuse to play it safe.
What an electric way to kick off the year in wine! Stay tuned for more on the wines shared and discovered.
