The "German Wine Institute" is an institution of the German wine industry. It was founded in 1949 under the name "Deutsche Weinwerbung GmbH". Together with the DWF (German Wine Fund), the institution was based in the "House of German Wine" in Mainz. In Aril 2016, both moved into an office building in Bodenheim, a municipality directly adjacent to Mainz, and the address was specially changed to "Platz des Weines 2". Together with the DWF, the DWI has been promoting the sales and quality of German wines since the late 1940s. In 2007, Monika Reule, a graduate agricultural engineer, took over as director, succeeding Holger W. Kirsten. There are about a dozen "Information Offices for German Wine" in the most important foreign markets for wine exports, such as in London, in New York and in Tokyo.
The tasks are public relations, consumer education and coordination of sales-promoting measures such as organising Germany trade fair stands at international wine events. Cooperation partners are, for example, the German Wine Academy (DWA) and the DWF. The DWI introduced the quality designations Classic and Selection. In mid-2007, the strategy was adapted. In future, Pinot Noir will be the leading grape variety alongside Riesling, and Switzerland, Poland and Ireland will be targeted as new markets. The twelve target countries remain the same, with the majority of the funds flowing into the traditionally most important export markets of the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan and the Netherlands. In January 2012, a cooperation agreement was concluded between the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) and the DWI to promote wine, culture and enjoyment in Germany as a travel destination. Comparable institutions with quite similar functions to the DWI are in Austria ÖWM (Österreich Wein Marketing) and in Switzerland SWC (Swiss Wine Communication).
