In France, the South welcomes sufficient winter rainfall. Less welcome, however, is the extremely low demand for IGP wines (Pinot Noir being an exception). In contrast, generic Vin de France is in strong demand; often, ‘declassified’ IGP wines, sometimes high-quality red wines with 14% ABV according to bulk wine brokers Ciatti, are traded as Vin de France. Mostly at low prices.
Here, they compete with unusually ‘high-priced’ Spanish competition, often targeting EU blend wines. In Spain itself, the market is rather quiet. Unusually heavy rain continues to fall, leading some insiders in the premium white segment to speculate on potentially rising prices, say insiders.
Fundamentally, however, prices are stable. Italian premium Barolo and Barbaresco are seeing slightly easing prices, while Grillo, on the other hand, is rising.
