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April 16, 2008
Record Exports and Dry Whites In Bordeaux
Export turnover for Bordeaux in 2007 reached 1.39 billion euros (£1.1bn, $2.2bn), representing 1.93 million hectoliters of wine - a record high for the region.
Exports represented 41% of total Bordeaux wine sales in 2007 and showed a 9% rise in value and 7% rise in volume compared with 2006.
The United Kingdom remains the biggest importer of Bordeaux wines with a turnover of 235m euros (£188m, $369m) and 280,747 hectoliters, an increase of 4% in value and 9% in volume.
The US is the second biggest market for Bordeaux wines in terms of value, worth 196m euros ($157m). Volumes exported to the US increased by 6% in 2007.
The Asian market continues to grow, particularly China, which recorded a 158% upsurge in value and a rise in volume of 82%. Hong Kong also marks a significant increase of 81% in value and 54% in volume. Both South Korea and Singapore also recorded impressive growth.*
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Impressive Dry Whites From Bordeaux
Bordeaux's 2007 vintage has produced impressive dry white wines, according to one industry expert.
This is the verdict from Berry Bros. & Rudd (BB&R) sales director Simon Staples, who has been in the region tasting 2007 en primeurs alongside 23 other company employees.
He added: “The 2007 white wines are magnificent: the dry whites are the best I've tasted at this stage 20 years and this is unquestionably the second best year for Sauternes after the peerless 2001 vintage.”
But while the dry whites have impressed, there has been a general industry consensus that last year's vintage was a mixed bag.
Staples mirrored these sentiments saying: “2007 will not go down in history as a great vintage. Bordeaux had a dreadful summer, as we did, with very little warmth and sunshine. An Indian Summer was its savior and has been credited with turning the vintage around. Subsequently the red wines did not fare as well as the whites.”**
Additional Statistics:
6% increase in value and 3% in volume across Europe; a market that accounts for 63% of Bordeaux exports.
Bordeaux wines represented 32% of the value of all still French wine exports.
Growth of Bordeaux wines in the 4.5 to 15 Euros category. Bordeaux's inter-professional body claims consumers are trading up.*
Sources: “Export record for Bordeaux*,” & “Dry whites impress in Bordeaux**,” Harpers, April 16, 2008
Posted by fortna at April 16, 2008 12:10 PM
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