Provenance, passion and purpose at VDP.Weinbörse 2026

Guests and producers at the VDP Weinbörse trade fair. — Photos: VDP by Peter Bender.

By Star Wine List

Published 15-April-2026

Partner content / Mainz

First held in 1974, VDP.Weinbörse is the in-house trade fair of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP). As nearly 200 producers prepare for the 2026 edition, we find out what this year’s event will entail.

On 26 and 27 April, the wineries of the VDP will once again convene at the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz for what has, over the past 50 years, become the world’s leading trade fair for top-quality German wines.

Founded in 1910, this association of German winemakers has become a marker of quality and craftsmanship, prioritising vineyard classification, provenance and expertise. The VDP.Weinbörse is a focused tasting that offers attendees a unique opportunity to sample and compare these wines side by side. And, of course, to engage with the winemaking families behind them.

From established names recognised the world over, to emerging estates, the event also serves as a “barometer” for industry professionals, according to Head of Marketing and Communication Theresa Bender, providing insight into the “structural change and trends in the wine sector, including broader wine-policy topics.”

“Over the past 50 years, the VDP.Weinbörse has evolved from a small, early initiative into one of the world’s most important showcases for German fine wine,” Theresa explains. “What began in 1974 with just 11 wineries and 105 wines in Mainz emerged out of a difficult period for German wine, when quality and reputation had suffered and the leading estates needed a new platform to present themselves together. The event has since become a strong symbol of the VDP’s community and its shared ambition to position Germany as a producer of top-quality wines.”

For the VDP itself, this event is “besides the Vorpremiere VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS®, the most important event of the entire year, because it brings so many of our member estates together in one place – which is always exciting in itself,” says Theresa. “At the same time, there is also something new every year, such as our masterclasses. Above all, we look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world – the exchange with them is always incredibly inspiring.”

What’s more, while wines in the VDP.GUTSWEIN and VDP.ORTSWEIN categories can be bottled and sold relatively earlier in the year following harvest, those in the VDP.ERSTES GEWÄCHS® and the Prädikat wines from VDP.GROSSE LAGE can only be sold from 1 May, with those falling under VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS® on-sale from 1 September each year, which means that guests at VDP.Weinbörse get a special preview of wines within these higher classification tiers when they are exhibited at the fair.

It’s set to be another illuminating occasion, celebrating the passion and expertise of Germany’s top winemakers.

VDP.Weinbörse 2026

The 2026 masterclasses

WHERE SITE MATTERS – THE VDP IN 45 MINUTES
Sunday, 26 April, 12.45-1.45pm
Master of Wine Caro Maurer will clarify the VDP’s four-tier classification system, from VDP.GUTSWEIN to the German ‘Grand Cru’ VDP.GROSSE LAGE®, and help examine what these classifications mean in the wines.

THE RENAISSANCE OF PRÄDIKAT WINES – POSITIONING GERMAN ICONS
Sunday, 26 April, 2.30-3.30pm
Winner of the ASI’s Best Sommelier of the World competition in 2019, Marc Almert will explore the six levels of wine on the Prädikat system and how they will continue to define German wine culture.

VDP.SEKT.STATUT – PROGRESS & PERSPECTIVE AFTER 10 YEARS
Monday, 27 April, 1.30-2.30pm
This year’s fair will have a focus on Sekt, the sparkling wine of Germany. Ratified in 2021, the VDP.SEKT.STATUT classification represents a decade-long initiative to ensure quality within the country’s sparkling wines, and a talk with Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl will examine how the category has developed – and where it’s going.