Photo courtesy Messe Dusseldorf North America
Bastian Mingers recently stepped into the role of a lifetime. He is now the Global Head of Wine & Spirits and Director of ProWein, the world’s largest beverage trade show.
“It’s a dream job because it’s the most interesting and fun project that the trade show industry in Dusseldorf has to offer,” says Mingers. “It’s super international, the exhibitors and visitors are the nicest clients you can have…so it’s always a joy to talk to them…the close connections you have with your exhibitors and visitors at ProWein are different than any other trade fair.”
He is grateful for the chance to connect with other wine professionals in a convivial setting, too.
“When we’re on a business trip we are not sitting in some industrial area—we’re sitting together with our clients—our vintners in their vineyards—and it’s more interesting when you have the chance to travel the world and see all these lovely places.”
Though not new to ProWein, as he has now worked for the fair for eight years, his love affair with wine dates back years. After high school, Mingers enrolled in a three-year gastronomy and hotel apprenticeship where he fell in love with wine.
“I was working in a restaurant [at the time] …but the [wine] that really got me into the wine game was a Riesling from Schloss Vollrads, which is an incredible Riesling,” says Mingers. “It’s a great wine, a great vineyard…and after that I started tasting different things and tasting around the world. The rest is history.”
Mingers is still in awe of the vastness and diversity of grapes and experiences that are afforded to him, not only as the helm of the most important international wine fair, but as a student of wine. He learns something new every day.
