European Grape Production and Wine Markets

Viticulture or grape production is a widespread and lucrative industry. Not only are grapes a popular food item, but they are also used in the elaboration of consumer goods such as raisins and wine. Grape and grape-products are widely consumed worldwide, particularly throughout western nations. This article explores the status of viticulture and grape production in Europe.

European Grape Production and Wine Markets

Grape vines are a surprisingly adaptable crop, which is mainly cultivated in sub-tropical and temperate regions. The agricultural production of grapes can take place in a variety of climates from the Mediterranean to mountainous regions of moderate altitude. However, each region and crop has its own particular characteristics, such as grape taste and color, whether red or white. Therefore, the craft of viticulture involves a close monitoring of the vineyards in order to ensure successful harvests. The largest grape producer in the world is China, whose output totals more than 8.5 million tonnes every year. The other top producers are Italy with more than 7.5 million tonnes, followed by France, the United States and Spain, all of which produce more than 6 million tonnes each year. In the case of China, a majority of the production is destined for the table grape and raisin markets. Meanwhile, the European nations employ most of their grape production in the elaboration of wine.

The top three wine producers in the world, Italy, France and Spain, are located in Western Europe. During 2015, Italy produced approximately 49.000 hectoliters of wine, while France produced some 47.000 and Spain close to 37.000 hectoliters. Nevertheless, eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, are also large-scale grape cultivators. In Bulgaria, an estimated 62.800 hectares of land are dedicated to vineyard production and 2015 was a record year in terms of productivity. Bulgarian grape production is mainly concentrated on the southern regions of the country, particularly the southeast.

In the case of Bulgaria, red grape varieties dominate more than 60% of the agricultural production, while white varieties account for little over 30% of the output. Nevertheless, the recent increase in popularity of white grapes and wines has led to a substantial increase in the planting of new white variety vineyards. The vast majority of Bulgaria’s vineyard output is used in wine manufacturing; however, wine production in Bulgaria is divided between commercial wineries and homemade wines. An estimated 81% of all Bulgarian grapes are destined for commercial wineries, whereas another 18% is processed as homemade wine. Finally, only 7% or approximately 18.800 tonnes are sold as table grapes for direct consumption.

The domestic wine market within Bulgaria during 2015 accounted for approximately US$243 million. National household wine consumption increased from approximately 4.4 liters per capita in 2012 to more than 5.6 liters in 2015. Similarly, Bulgaria is a net exporter of wine, mainly to countries within the European Union, such as Poland and Romania. Nevertheless, Bulgaria also exports a substantial amount of wine, about 14% of its 2015 exports, to the Russian market.

(Read more about Weather, Agriculture & Niche Products in Asia)