Spanish wine production
Last month I was reading the OIV 2022’s report, and some numbers truly blew me away! Click on the following link, to acquire the full report.
As we regularly organise tastings or courses it is mandatory to refresh and up-date knowledge and some files. As we are in Andorra, Spanish wines dominate our portfolio. Hence, I felt that I had to focus on Spain for a little while.
Largest vineyard in the world
As most of you already know, Spain is the largest vineyard in the world with 955.000 ha in 2022. France comes second, and Italy fourth. The third place belongs to China with an impressive number: 779.000ha. Although only 10% of it is dedicated to wine production.
Keep in mind that vine density is significantly lower than in France. The minimum in La Rioja is 2850 vines per hectare. (4000 vines per hectare is the maximum authorised). In Bordeaux it can be up to 10.000 vines per hectare! Recently Champagne has lowered its minimum to 6000 ha, before that it was 8000 ha. Due to global warming, many top Spaniards winemakers reckon they will have to reduce their planting density too. (As well as planting better suited clones, rootstocks, and training systems). Surely one of the least densely planted vineyard in Spain could be Lanzarote with something close to 625 vines per hectare. Old vines are another important feature in Spain, effectively Spain has surely one the highest concentration of old vines.
Wine Production in volume
The Iberian peninsula takes the third place with 35.7mhl with the 2022 vintage. A particularly dry vintage and hot year. 2018 is generally rated as “classic Vintage” when it comes to quality and volume, with 44.9mhl!!! The OIV’s report is clearly showing how Spain is suffering from global warming and its disastrous effects. How weather patterns have dramatically changed over the years, and each vintage is a new challenge. Judge by yourself
Those who have been implicated with Spanish wines, can recall the following events:
2017
Severe Spring frost.
2020
40.9mhl (Pandemic vintage) many Spanish vineyards were struck by Mildew and Oidium, caused by a heavy rains during spring and followed by a hot summer. Rafael Palacios’O’Soro 2020 received 100 Points R. Parker
Catalunya was probably the most severed affected wine region. As many others Francesc Ferre, co-owner of Celler Frisach in Terra Alta lost more than 60% of its harvest.
2021
Cryptogamic issues in many part of the country.
35.5mhl
2022
35.5mhl. terribly hot summer. In various wine regions vines underwent heat stress.
14.000ha of land were devastated by wildfires in Calatayud.
(Low) Wine consumption per capita
First, it must mention that world wine consumption has decreased at a regular state since 2018. Second, Covid in 2020, the war in Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent increase in prices that suffered the wine industry have contributed to this situation.
Anyway, it is still difficult to understand how wine consumption can be so low in Spain. The industry has never been so prepared, trained, and passionate about wine. Spanish winemakers/oenologists, Sommeliers, wine writers or influencers never exhibit so much understanding of this industry. More importantly, several professionals have reach one of the highest international recognition’s title :
- Almudena Alberca MW
- Pedro Balellesteros MW
- Fernando Mora MW
- Alvaro Ribalta MW
Many restaurants are offering interesting wine selection, new wine-bars are popping like flowers in spring as does wineshops.
Museums dedicated to specific local wines, some “Consejo Reguladores” are also promoting hard. And without mentioning all the tasting and events that are available throughout the country. Unfortunately, it seems that such efforts are pointless to increase the country wine consumption: 24 liter per capita. On the other hand Hispania love ist beer as beer consumption is fetching 58 Liters per capita in 2022… What a drag!
Selling at the wrong price?
Finally the last figure that will leave you speechless is the total value in mEUR of Spain’s exportation. In 2022, Italy and Spain sold more o less the same volume of wine, roughly 22.5mhl. But the difference is that Italians charged 7834mEUR for it, and Spaniards obtained 2984mEUR for the same value. Not even 50%!!! This is a constant conversation that we have with Spanish wine producers. But still good news for most Spanish wine lovers, generally wines are fairly priced. And one will be able to find stunning wines at different and tremendous prices.
One of my favourites is the Sparkling Josep I Coca Brut Nature produced in the Penedes area, in a village called Subirat. A blend of Xarel.lo and Macabeu aged 60 months on the lees before to be released. Yes, 5 years! Tell me it is not a bargain for less than 20.00 euros.
Another great value is Menade’second wine called Casa By Menade from Rueda. Mostly verdejo with a dash of viura and Sauvignon blanc. Light, crisp and fresh. Unoaked. A fantastic quaffer for less than 6 euros.
A totally different category, if you like to cellar your fine wines you should try Las Cabezadas de Matadula 2019. A unique wine produced in Labastida from a single parcel. The grapes used to be sold to Benjamin Romeo, the well-known Contador’s producer. Rich, concentrated and too young! It needs at least 3/5 years to show its best. 45 Euros per bottle.
