ProWine Mumbai is set to stage its biggest edition yet this year, with more than 180 exhibitors from 21 countries and a record 6,000 trade visitors expected to attend, underscoring India’s rapid rise as one of the world’s most attractive wine and spirits markets.
The 2025 edition will take place from October 31 to November 1 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
The show’s expanded scale comes after the last-minute cancellation of Vinexpo Mumbai, which had been scheduled for early October at the same venue. That cancellation has positioned ProWine as India’s only major international wine and spirits fair in 2025, concentrating the industry’s focus and resources on this year’s event.
Organisers said the exhibition will feature national pavilions from Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Moldova, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, while participants from Argentina, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and several other countries will also be represented.
In addition to the trade exhibition, the two-day show will include 12 masterclasses led by international experts, such as Kunal Kaul DipWSET on Japanese sake, Karina Aggarwal on Swiss wines, Vikram Achanta on British craft wines and spirits, and Michael Jacob on Irish whiskeys.
Following its success in 2023, the ProWine & ProSpirits Challenge returns this year, with judging completed on September 23 at Mumbai’s JW Marriott Hotel. The event will also feature an industry forum on trends and innovation, and the gala ProWine Mumbai Night, which will host the “Honoring Excellence” awards recognising industry leaders.
India’s Growing Importance
International participants say the show reflects India’s growing importance as a global drinks destination.
“For the fifth consecutive year, Business France is partnering with ProWine Mumbai to present French wines and spirits,” said Estelle David, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Business France – India and South Asia. “At a time when the Indian market is evolving and showing a rising demand for premium wines and spirits, this partnership reflects our confidence in ProWine as the right stage to highlight French excellence.”
Theresa Olkus, Managing Director of VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) in Germany, said India’s market offers “dynamic opportunities” for long-term partnerships.
“This year, with ten of our member wineries participating for the first time, we see India’s alco-bev industry as an exciting and rapidly developing landscape,” Olkus said. “ProWine Mumbai plays a key role in connecting producers and buyers internationally.”
Robert Maron, Senior Vice President for International Trade at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said the organisation’s debut at the fair signals strong confidence in India’s potential.
“India, the world’s largest whiskey market, continues to grow, and we see tremendous opportunities to expand exports and partnerships,” Maron said. “We’re proud to showcase craft U.S. distillers and American whiskey brands that have yet to enter the Indian market.”
India’s Drinks Market Accelerates
India’s alcoholic beverage imports continue to climb despite a global slowdown. According to data released by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and compiled by Vino Joy News, in the first seven months of the year, wine imports rose 30% in volume and 17.5% in value to 2.92 million litres worth US$15.46 million, while spirits imports reached 54.68 million litres worth US$331 million, up 18% and 11.6%, respectively.
With ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, tariffs on European wines — currently as high as 150% — could be reduced by over 100%, unlocking further opportunities. Similar tariff cuts under India’s trade deals with Australia and the United Kingdom have already benefited exporters.
Amber Chandler, the UK’s Agriculture Counsellor in India, said the lower tariffs will strengthen bilateral trade in the beverage sector.
“The UK Government is proud to showcase the excellence and diversity of British wines, spirits, ciders and beers at ProWine Mumbai,” Chandler said. “With the UK-India FTA concluded, we’re entering a new era of opportunity for our world-class producers.” Under the UK-India FTA, tariffs on scotch whisky has been dropped to 75% from 150%, and will be reduced to 40% over the next decade.
ProWine first entered the Indian market in 2018 through small educational events and launched its first full-scale exhibition in 2021, featuring 70 exhibitors from 13 countries and 2,017 trade visitors. The show has expanded every year since: in 2024, it covered 7,000 square metres, hosted 170 exhibitors and 10 national pavilions, and drew 5,900 visitors.
Ajay Gulati, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf India, said this growth reflects the deepening maturity of India’s drinks industry. “The growth of ProWine Mumbai is a clear reflection of the immense potential and maturity of the Indian market,” Gulati said. “The event continues to expand because of the strong trust and value placed in it by both international producers and India’s trade community.”
Nikhil Agarwal, Founder of All Things Nice, said this year’s event highlights India’s accelerating beverage transformation.
“ProWine Mumbai is in its 5th year now and we are happy to have a vibrant and dynamic set of exhibitors from India and from abroad in addition to 10 special country pavilions,” says Agarwal. “It reflects the interest in the Indian market for global players and puts a spotlight on the fast growing demand in India. India is firmly set on its wine and spirits journey, at a pace that is astonishing, sometimes difficult and complex but consistent in progressing in its collective long term vision.
“10 years from now, when we look back I know that ProWine Mumbai will have its place in being one of the major catalysts in getting India to where it is.”
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