Fair Wine was an exhibitor at AUSTRO VIN in Tulln a.d.Donau for three days from January 29 to 31, 2026. AUSTRO VIN Tulln is Austria’s largest specialized trade fair for viticulture and winemaking supplies. On 18,000 m², 240 trade exhibitors from 14 nations with 450 brands present the entire value chain for wine and fruit growing to over 8,500 visitors.
In addition to information on the Fair Wine Award and EUROVINO in Karlsruhe, which takes place on 01. The PIWI event, which took place from March 2 to 2 in Karlsruhe, offered the opportunity to taste PIWI wines from resistant grape varieties such as Calardis Blanc, Calardis Royal, Sauvignac and Cabernet Blanc as well as historical grape varieties such as Gelber Kleinberger.
Special thanks go to Professor Dr. Oliver Trapp, Director of the JKI Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, who provided first-hand information on the resistant grape varieties bred by the institute.
The Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof is one of 18 research institutes of the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) – Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants. The main task of the institute is to breed new grape varieties that are adapted to the German climate and are resistant to pests and other stress factors while maintaining high wine quality. The fungus-resistant new varieties originate from this breeding work
- Calandro,
- Calardis Blanc,
- Calardis Musqué,
- Felicia,
- Phoenix,
- Reberger,
- Regent and
- Villaris.
The resistant grape varieties Calardis Blanc and Calardis Royal bred by the JKI Institute were of particular interest to Austrian winegrowers. Both grape varieties are highly resistant to the dangerous fungal diseases oidium and peronospora, true and downy mildew, and thus reduce the necessary spraying by up to 70% compared to established grape varieties.
Fair Wine has set itself the task of making the PIWI grape varieties better known in the German wine market and increasing their acceptance.
Resistant grape varieties are therefore judged qualitatively in a separate category at the Fair Wine Award. The award ceremony for the winning wines will take place during EUROVINO 2026 – including a presentation of all award-winning wines in a tasting zone for trade and gastronomy.