French Wine Exports in Free Fall – Lowest Level since 10 Years

Thus, the individual French winemaking areas have been affected differently. Champagne exports decreased by 28 percent, followed by Bordeaux (-23.2%) and Burgundy (-22.7%). AOC wines are significantly affected, whereas “Vin de Pays” et “Vins de Table” wines suffered only insignificant declines.

Exports to Great Britain, which is considered the be the top market for French wines, dropped by 23.2%. Ubifrance blamed this development on different factors, including the price gap of the 2006 Bordeaux vintage and the competition from cheap wines of the New World, especially from Australia and Argentina, which managed to make up ground in the traditional markets of the French in 2009.

However, Ubifrance also reported something to hope for. In the last two months of the previous year, particularly in December 2009, exports increased by 7.1% up, compared to 2008. “It is still too early to talk about a considerable recovery, but the development seems to be positive,” said a spokesman of Ubifrance and he announced that more than 140 independent initiatives will be launched to support and reinvigorate French exports in traditional and emerging markets. (aw.yoopress)