2016 World wine production down 3%, US up 10%, global consumption holds steady

Global wine production declined 3.2 % in 2016, down to 7 billion gallons (267 million hectolitres – mhl) from 7.3 billion in 2015 according to an International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)) news conference today in Paris.

 

United States was among the winners with a 10% increase:

 

Wine consumption stood at 6.4 billion gallons in 2016, roughly the same as 2015.

According to the OIV, “the size of the global area under vines remained at 18.5 million acres in 2016, with China’s vineyard surface area continuing to increase (+43K acres confirming its place as the country with the 2nd biggest vineyard surface area.”

 

It is not yet known if the China acreage is flawed — as in years past by the inclusion of table grape vineyards.

The data is still coming out of the news conference in Paris where it is still mid-afternoon as this Wine Industry Insight article was being written.

France, was the biggest loser in production. As the world’s second-biggest wine producer its output volume dropped to 92 million gallons in output volume. Argentina, the world’s number nine producer lost, 103 million gallons.

In percentage terms, the biggest losers were Brazil, where production fell 55%, and Hungary, where it dropped by 38%. Drought cut South Africa’s production by 6%.