The OIV estimates that 258 million hectoliters (hl) of wine were produced worldwide in 2022, 1% less than in the previous year. Global consumption is also expected to have declined by 1% to 232 million. The global area under vines also remained almost stable, with a slight decline of -0.4% to 7.3 million hectares (about 18 million acres). Major changes were seen in exports, which fell by 5% to 107 mill. hl, but are said to have increased in value by 9% to 37.6 billion euros.

USA overtakes Germany as the world's largest wine importer

As the largest import market in the world, the USA has overtaken Germany. While the USA increased by 3% to 14.4 million hl, Germany imported 9% less at 13.4 million hl. With a decline of 4%, Germany is one of the few markets that also spent less on its wine imports (€2.7 billion). In value, the USA (€7 billion, +17%) and the UK (€4.8 billion, +22%) are ahead of Germany.

In a first forecast for 2023, the OIV expects a significant decline in wine production in the southern hemisphere. According to this, Argentina and New Zealand will lose a fifth of the previous year's volume, Brazil almost 30%, and Australia is also expected to lose 13.1%. Losses are more moderate in South Africa, where the harvest is expected to be only slightly below average, with a drop of 6%. Only Chile could record a small increase of 1.3%. Overall, this would mean a drop of 6.1 million hl for the southern hemisphere compared to 2021.

Overall, Germany remains the fourth largest wine consuming market in the world with 19.4 million hl behind the USA (34 million hl), France (25,3 million hl) and Italy (23 million hl).

Chinese wine market continues to decline

The Chinese wine market showed a clear decline, falling by 16% to 8.8 million hl. OIV Director General Pau Roca emphasized that the Chinese market has been declining steadily for years and is weighing on global consumption. In 2018, 18.8 million hl were still sold in China. Analogously, Chinese wine production also gave way from 9.3 million hl in 2018 to 4.2 mill. hl in 2022.

Europe is the heart of global viticulture. The EU alone accounts for 60% of world wine production (Photo: Maksim Shebeko/stock.adobe.com)

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Vintage 2022: Average Volumes

World wine production in 2022 is again expected to be slightly below average, with differences between the individual winegrowing zones and countries. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) forecasts global production of between 257.5 and 262.3m. hl of wine and must in 2022. There will be regional differences in harvest volumes, but the market surplus will remain (see HERE). Vincent Messmer reports.

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Unknown quantities of international viticulture

In contrast, Chinese vineyard area has increased, although growth has slowed. With 785,000 hectares, China ranks No. 3 in the world - ahead of Italy. However, similar to Turkey as No. 5 on the list with 410,000 hectares of vines, much of the grapes are not used for wine production. The diversity of viticulture is also evident in other nations. More vineyard area than Germany is also cultivated in India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

The declining internationality of the global wine industry is also attributed by the OIV to ongoing supply chain disruptions and the effects of inflation. Despite the decline in volume, global trade value is higher than ever, it said.

The bottom line, according to Roca, is that the wine industry has proven to be very resilient during times of crisis. He pointed to the category of dealcoholized wines and sustainability as important new topics. In the case of dealcoholized wines, it was important to him that the context to the initial product, wine, was maintained and that there was no washing out through the addition of aromas. CG