Oct 26: After a dismal 2017 vintage when the world wine production of wine was at a historical low of 251 mhL, the current year is expected to have a high production of 282 mL, third highest recorded since 2000 with Europe recording 19% growth but maximum growth 36% recorded by Chile, and the USA keeping the same level as last year, according to a Press Release today by International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
In Europe: Italy (48.5 mhl), France (46.4 mhl) and Spain (40.9 mhl) recorded very high production levels. Germany (9.8 mhl), Romania (5.2 mhl), Hungary (3.4 mhl) and Austria (3.0 mhl) have also forecasted harvests above their 5-year averages. Portugal (5.3 mhl) and Greece (2.2 mhl) were the only countries to see a decrease in production compared with 2017. Georgia recorded the highest growth of 57% at 2 mhL.
In the European Union (EU), the harvest volume will be 19% higher than the previous year's levels. Wine production, excluding juice and musts, is estimated at 168.4 mhl – which is a significant increase of 27.2 mhl compared with the low 2017 production (141.1 mhl).
In the main European producing countries, estimates for the 2018 harvest are higher than those of the year before. In Italy, production increased by 14% compared with 2017 and established itself at 48.5 mhl, in line with the 5-year average. In France (46.4 mhl) and in Spain (40.9 mhl), with rises of 27% and 26% respectively compared with 2017, estimated levels are higher than the average for the last 5 years.
In Germany (9.8 mhl), production increased by 2.3 mhl compared with the preceding year. This level of production is likely to be the highest in the last 10 years. In Romania (5.2 mhl), after 4 years of production at an average level, 2018 should exceed the already very high levels of 2013. In Hungary (3.4 mhl) and in Austria (3.0 mhl), production will also be very strong compared with recent years.
Portugal and Greece were the only countries to see a reduced harvest compared with their 2017 volumes. In Portugal (5.3 mhl), weather conditions favourable to bouts of downy and powdery mildew greatly impacted 2018 production, with a drop of 22% compared with 2017. 2018 production is set to be the lowest in the last 6 years. In Greece, vinified production should arrive at 2.2 mhl – a fall of 15% compared with 2017. This follows the downward trend in production observed since 2003.
Production levels in the US (23.9 mhl) have remained stable for 3 years. Though there is an estimated drop of 2% from last year, it recorded a high level of production for the third year running, thus confirming its position as the 4th biggest producer in the world after Italy, France and Spain.
In South Africa, drought significantly impacted 2018 production (9.5 mhl with a decline of 12% compared with 2017. The country recorded its lowest production level since 2012).
South American production levels were very high. In Argentina (14.5 mhl) vinified production increased by 23% compared with the previous year, and in Chile (12.9 mhl) it grew by 36%. Brazil (3.0 mhl) reached a high level, even if its production fell compared with the very strong 2017 production.
Australian wine production (12.5 mhl) declined compared with that of the previous year and New Zealand production (3.0 mhl) remained at a very high level.
In Australia, after the 2 very sizeable harvests of 2016 (13.1 mhl) and 2017 (13.7 mhl), 2018 production (12.5 mhl) saw a drop of 9%. Despite this drop, the vinified level remained high in relation to the 5-year average. In New Zealand, production increased compared with the preceding year and stood at a high level of 3.0 mhl, which is the 3rd highest production recorded in the country.
OIV is a Paris-based intergovernmental organization of a scientific and technical nature of recognised competence for its work concerning vines, wine, wine-based beverages, table grapes, raisins and other vine-based products. It consists of 46 Member States including India as the 43rd State; Indian Wine Academy had been a catalyst in getting its membership approved as consensus in the very first attempt.
Many people in India-in government and the wine industry are unaware of the objectives of OIV, which could be extremely useful for the grape and wine industry, specially in standardization and formulation of wine laws during the 4 years of its membership. According to our reliable sources, India has failed to have taken the full advantage.
Following are some of the objectives:
- to inform its members of measures whereby the concerns of producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine products sector may be taken into consideration;
- to assist other international organizations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental, especially those that carry out standardisation activities;
- to contribute to international harmonisation of existing practices and standards and, as necessary, to the preparation of new international standards in order to improve the conditions for producing and marketing vine and wine products, and to help ensure that the interests of consumers are taken into account.
Please look at the Table below providing information about the main production
Subhash Arora
Trends in world wine production
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