January 2023

Champagne Sales Topped $6.5 billion as Exports Surge

The official 2022 shipments from Champagne were released yesterday showing a year-end total of 326 million bottles. Total shipments increased 1.6%. This is the highest annual figure in 15 years, and third greatest since the 1999 pre-Millennium surge.

Driving growth rates for Champagne shipments in 2022 have been exports of the fizz, which were up 4.3% in 2022, taking the final sum to 187.5m bottles, compared to 138.4m bottles distributed within France, a decline of 1.7% on 2021.

The Comité Champagne pointed out that the market share for exports versus domestic demand has changed significantly over the past decade, with the proportion of Champagne exports rising from 45% 10 years ago to 57% today.

While the shipments in 2022 were restricted by supply, with shortages resulting from growing demand during a time of reduced output from the region, the Comité Champagne expressed confidence concerning stocks in the future following the “sunny 2022 harvest, which was remarkable both for its quantity and quality”.

The combination of increasing shipment volumes in 2022, coupled with higher Champagne prices; a product of limited supply, rising production costs, and greater sales of pricier cuvées; have pushed up the value of shipments to a new record, with the global sum surpassing $6.5 billion for the first time.

Champagne shipments [bottles] 2022-1999:

2022: 326m

2021: 320m

2020: 245m

2019: 297.5m

2018: 301.9m

2017: 307.3m

2016: 306.1m

2015: 313m

2014: 307m

2013: 305m

2012: 309m

2011: 323m

2010: 319m

2009: 293m

2008: 322.5

2007: 338.7

2006: 321.8

2005: 307.7m

2004: 301.4

2003: 293.5

2002: 287.7

2001: 262.7m

2000: 253.2m

1999: 327m

Source: Comité Champagne

#champagne #champagnelovers #champagneexports #champagnemarket #wine #winelovers #winestats #wineexports #ComitéChampagne #winemarketing #vin

Pays d’Oc Hosts the 2023 Rosé Wine Session of Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

The 2023 Rosé Wine Session of Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is due to take place in Montpellier, in the heart of Pays d’Oc. This year there will be over 50 international judges who will get the opportunity to discover the region’s incredible range of wines, from 8 to 10 March 2023.

For the past 30 years, Pays d’Oc winegrowers have been instrumental in the success of varietal wines and the reputation of this Protected Geographical Indication. To express their creative spirit, they can draw on a vast array of 58 grape varieties and 120,000 hectares of vineyards set between the sea and the mountains, soaking up the multiple influences of a temperate Mediterranean climate. A significant 30% of Pays d’Oc production is now rosé, equating to nearly 300 million bottles of wine annually. This is France’s leading IGP rosé producer region, focusing primarily on the Grenache noir, Cinsault and Syrah grape varieties.

The Pays d’Oc wine region embraces four departments in Languedoc-Roussillon which is part of the broader Occitanie region: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard and six localities in southern Lozère. Forming an arch along the Mediterranean, it stretches from the Spanish border to the Rhone delta. Its 120,000 hectares of vineyards are home to myriad landscapes and contrasting weather patterns. The land is shaped in terraces facing the Mediterranean and combines mountains, high-level plateaux, mountain foothills, mid-level plateaux and coastal plains. The climate in Pays d’Oc is Mediterranean, with Atlantic influences to the West and continental influences to the East. Four prevailing winds sweep across the region – the Mistral, Tramontane, Marin and Autan. These weather conditions ensure the vines stay healthy and the fruit ripens naturally. A mosaic of soils – clay-limestone, limestone, gneiss, schist and gravel at the foot of the hills – instils Pays d’Oc wines with their inimitable character.

Varietal Wines

92% of the IGP Pays d’Oc range of wines are single varietals, which means they come from just one grape variety. Varietal wine is the cornerstone of the designation and production specifications feature a whopping 58 different grapes to choose from. The range embraces both world famous ‘star’ grapes like Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Viognier, but also lesser known varieties, some of which have a distinct Mediterranean accent, like Grenache, Rolle, Syrah and Carignan. This extensive array of varieties promotes an endless range of aromatic characters. In terms of output, IGP Pays d’Oc production volumes are consistent from year to year, with each vintage producing between 5.5 and 6 million hectolitres of wine across all three colours.

#rosewine #roseallday #rosewinelover #wine #winelover #travelling #winetravel #winetourism #womeninwine #wineexperience #winelovers #winetravels #winetasting #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #Paysdoc #paysdocigp #southoffrance #madeinfrance #varietalwines

Vinitaly to launch international roadshows in 2023

Vinitaly has announced last week a series of roadshows set to take place in the UK, Austria and USA this year.

Organized by events company Veronafiere, the Vinitaly wine show is scheduled to take place this spring in Verona, Italy. The roadshows are scheduled throughout January and February, aiming to provide the international wine community with a preview of what’s to come at the upcoming spring exhibition.

The roadshows will involve an afternoon of tasting Italian wines from all 20 wine regions, a light lunch, and a meet and greet with local wine ambassadors from the Vinitaly International Academy. There will also be representatives on hand from Veronafiere, the Italian Trade Agency, and managing director of Vinitaly International Stevie Kim to explain their plans for Vinitaly 2023.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and discover more about all of Vinitaly’s annual events. Meanwhile, trade professionals will be offered the chance to join the Buyers’ Programme, which allows members to attend the next Vinitaly event in Verona with sponsored travel and accommodation.

Vinitaly has just released tickets for their roadshow events, with limited availability. The first attendees to arrive at the shows will receive complimentary copies of Vinitaly’s new book, Italian Wine Unplugged 2.0.

Here are the dates and locations:

19 Jan. 2023: Seerestaurant Katamaran, Ruster Bucht 1, 7071 Rust, Austria, 6 – 10pm

23 Jan. 2023: Salt Creek Grill, 1 Rockingham Row, Princeton, NJ 08540, 11am – 3pm

24 Jan. 2023: Contento, 88 E 111th St, New York, NY 10029, 11am – 3pm

25 Jan 2023: Di Palo, 151 Mott St, New York, NY 10013, 11 am – 3pm

8 Feb. 2023: Eataly, 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3YD, England, 11am – 3pm

9 Feb. 2023: South Stand Lounge (gate 3),

Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1NS. Wales, 11am – 3pm

#wine #winelovers #winetrade #winetasting #Vinitaly #Vinitaly2023 #italianwine #Veronafiere #Verona #winebuyers #winejournalists #wineinfluencers #winewinewine #winenews #winemarketing

Italy’s sparkling wine sector ends 2022 in record volumes

2 billion euros in export value alone illustrate the spumante boom. Markets like Eastern Europe and France are also growing strongly.

According to recent estimates by Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) and the service institute Ismea, Italy’s sparkling wine sector ends 2022 with a production record of 970 mill. bottles. The total business value is 2.85 billion euros, of which the export market alone generates 2 billion euros. The growth of 6% is mainly due to exports (+8%), but the internal market will also close positively (+1%).

In particular, demand in the main markets, the USA, the UK and Germany, is accelerating growth. However, good results are also achieved in other established places such as Canada, Sweden and Japan, and sales are also increasing in younger markets such as Eastern Europe and France (+25% volume).

The three Prosecco origins DOC, DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene and DOCG Asolo not only account 70% of production, they are also the best-selling product in the food sector worldwide. According to the report, their business value is over 1.6 billion euros. Asti DOCG, Trentodoc and Franciacorta were also able to increase sales.

Italy’s sparkling wine production consists of 83% DOP qualities, 6% fall to IGT wines, the rest to sparkling wines without specific indications of origin.

#Prosecco #Conegliano #Valdobbiadene #Asolo #Asti #Trentodoc #Franciacorta #Italysparklingwine #winetrade #winenews #italianwine #italianwinelovers #sparklingwine #wineexports #winelovers #italianwine #winetrade #wine #italianwine #winetrends

2023 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles [Rosé Wine Session] Montpellier

I’m thrilled to be participating in as a judge in the upcoming Concours Mondial de Bruxelles [Rosé Wine Session] in Montpellier, France!

In 2022, over 1,200 wines from 23 countries were entered in the rosé-only session designed for still, sparkling, semi-sparkling and fortified rosé wines.

I’m looking forward to this year’s entries!

Pays d’Oc is the official host of the 2023 Rosé Wine Session.

For 30 years, Pays d’Oc winegrowers have helped ensure the success of varietal wines and awareness of this Protected Geographical Indication, championing its ethics and values. Their creative mindset is expressed through 58 different grape varieties and 120,000 hectares of vineyards set between the mountains and the sea which soak in the many influences of the temperate Mediterranean climate. From the Camargue to the Pyrenees, the sun-drenched wine routes that were once trodden by the Greeks and the Romans 26 centuries ago, are now home to 20,000 Pays d’Oc winegrowers, who farm both independently and as part of co-operatives. With annual production of over 2 million hectolitres of rosé wines, IGP Pays d’Oc is France’s leading GI producer region of rosé.

#rose #rosewine #wine #winetasting #winejudging #Montpellier #travelling #traveldiaries #wineinfluencer #paysdocigp #wine #ros #winelover #winetime #winelovers #winestagram #vino #rose #instawine #wineoclock #winery #roseallday #winelife #vin #sommelier #wines #provence #pinkwine #wein #drinkpink #wineoftheday #winejudge #wineawards #winetrade