29.02.2008
Arab wine production set to increase
The production of wine in Arab countries around the Mediterranean is on the increase, with Syria set to begin production within two years.
According to news agency AFP, wine production and quality in Algeria, Eygpt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia is experiencing a 'renaissance' and 'blooming' following years of civil war, nationalisation and religious opposition.
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The countries produce 146m bottles of wine and the sector has a turnover of £170m (US$340m, €226m).In Egypt, production has doubled since the millennium. The country produces 8.5m bottles of wine, three quarters of which are drunk by tourists.Although its neighbour Lebanon is an established wine producer, Syria looks set to drastically increase its production within two years. This is due to 'vast' vineyard plantings near the mediterranean port of Latakia by Syrian businessman and shipping tycoon Johnny Saade.Following recent civil unrest and Isreali military incursion in 2006, Lebanon has seen its wine production revived. Although most of its vineyards are found in the strategically important Bekka Valley, turnover in 2007 was up 10%.In northwest Africa, Algeria, once the world's biggest wine exporter, falls in alongside Morocco and Tunisia in terms of production. According to AFP, the three countries produce the majority of Arab wine with 13m hectares under vine. Around 20% of the countries' wines are exported to Europe. According to Hugh Johnson, Morocco 'should have the best vineyards' of the three.'It's important to battle against the prejudices that surround Arab wines,' said Jean-Pierre Dehut of Morocco's largest producer, Cellars of Meknes (pictured). 'Too many people still believe it's like in colonial days when tankers full of mixed wines sailed across the Mediterranean to top up European wines.'
Spanish wine exports 2007: UK is leading market
The Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) has released export statistics for the full year 2007, which show strong growth. As noted earlier in Tempranillo (Jan. to Oct. stats), the UK has passed Germany to become the largest market for Spanish wines by value (305.7 million euros).
In general, exports rose by 12% in value to 1.8 billion euros and by 7% in volume to 1.5 billion liters. Big shifts were seen in bulk white wines up 36% in volume to 413 million liters and actually passing the combined red and rosado category (373 M liters). Also Cava showed a 28% increase in value to 356 million euros on 116 million liters shipped, however the FEV did note that this may have been caused by a reporting error in that Italy showed an unbelievable 1781% increase in cave purchases.
By markets in 2007, the top 5 countries in value were:
UK: 305.7 M € (+9% from 2006),
Germany: 295 M € (and leader for cava at 85.8 M €),
USA: 200.3 M € (60% of this in D.O. quality wines)
France 105.6 M € (nearly 60% of this in bulk shipments),
Switzerland 98.4 M €
By volume:
France: 252 M liters
Germany: 250.5 M liters
Russia: 157.8 M liters (87% in bulk shipments)
UK: 127 M liters
Portugal: 120.7 M liters (+22% from 2006).
A vintage to put the sparkle back into Gisborne
The start of the 2008 harvest in Gisborne looks set to put some sparkle back into the region, as the area continues to recover from the effects of December's earthquake.While the city suffered much damage, the vines themselves were unaffected and a long hot summer has created a buzz around the vineyards, with excitement and great anticipation around the flavour potential and quality of this season's crop.Fittingly, as the first vines to see the sun each day, Gisborne's grapes are also the first to be harvested each year and the corks are now set to pop in New Zealand's 'Sparkling Capital'.This season Pernod Ricard New Zealand, formerly Montana, New Zealand's leading winemaker, kicks off its 35th year with the first pick of its acclaimed Chardonnay grapes for the ever-growing sparking wine export market. The harvest is due to start at Montana's Gisborne vineyards - Ormond, Patutahi, Saints, Whitmore and Riverpoint - as the sun rises on Wednesday (27 February).And everyone is excited and ready to celebrate, including the President of Gisborne's Winegrowers' Society, Mr John Clarke.
"The start of the wine harvest each year always causes a buzz of excitement in Gisborne and this year its importance can not be underestimated", says Mr Clarke."Celebrating harvest 2008 provides a very welcome boost to the local community after the effects of the December earthquake. The wine industry is one of the larger contributors to our local economy and provides significant employment in the area."All indications are that, despite the earthquake, our long, dry summer bodes well for a great harvest, which is welcome news for Gisborne that prides itself on being the first region in New Zealand to kick off the wine harvest. "Montana's early harvest grapes in Gisborne are used largely for sparkling wines, for which the company has a 90% share of New Zealand's export market.Sparkling wines are a growth variety for New Zealand wine exports, especially to the UK, and Pernod Ricard's brands, particularly Montana Brut Cuveé and Lindauer, are leading that growth.Gisborne has long been known as New Zealand's 'Chardonnay Capital' as it produces around 40% of the country's Chardonnay. And while the region has won countless accolades over the years for its signature variety, predictions for this year are for something extra special. "Cool conditions over part of the flowering period in spring has led to smaller than average berry size for some of the earlier flowering Chardonnay varieties in Gisborne. Combined with a long, hot summer this should lead to intense flavours in the ripe fruit, perfect for great wines", says Jeff Clarke, chief winemaker. "It's great to see what looks to be such a promising vintage hot on the heels of an outstanding 2007. From a winemaker's perspective, we're extremely excited about the flavour potential a harvest like this could deliver. "The first week of the harvest will see the bubbly varieties being plucked from the vines. These include Chardonnay - used for Montana Brut Cuveé and Lindauer wines.The Gisborne region, New Zealand's third largest producer of wine grapes, last year produced 12.8% of the national harvest, totalling 26,000 tonnes.The region's 2008 harvest is predicted to be 21,500 tonnes, around 17% down on last year, with a smaller crop expected for the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer varieties.However, the later varieties, including Pinot Gris, Semillon, Muscat and Merlot, have all set well during the long, hot weather and are expected to meet last year's levels.While much of the interest and excitement for wine enthusiasts will be around Gisborne's signature Chardonnay, a number of other varieties are growing in importance in the region. "As a wine-growing region, Gisborne certainly has made a name for itself when it comes to Chardonnay. And, with the area producing the majority of New Zealand's sparkling wine exports, it's safe to say we're also the nation's bubbly capital".
HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong stands to become an international wine hub and profit from rapidly growing demand in China after abolishing a 40-percent tax on the tipple, industry experts said
Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang on Wednesday scrapped all duty on wine and beer, saying he hoped to create a wine trading and distribution market in the booming southern Chinese territory.Boris de Vroomen, chairman of the Wine and Spirits Industry Coalition, said the move would "send a strong message that Hong Kong is determined to become an international fine wine hub" alongside London and New York."Hong Kong has everything needed to create a fine wine hub and the only thing preventing that was the duty," he said."As much as 40 percent of fine wines traded and sold in London are sold to consumers based in Hong Kong but stored in London, so Hong Kong does not benefit."Wine consumption in Asia has risen sharply in recent years and is forecast to increase further.De Vroomen, who leads a joint venture between drink-maker Diageo and LVMH, owner of Moet champagne, forecast Chinese consumers would buy around 50 million cases of imported wine a year by 2017, up from just two million now.Auction house Bonhams responded to the news by announcing it would hold what it said was Hong Kong's first wine sale in a decade."Hong Kong has quickly established itself as a growing market leader in the trade and collecting of the finest and rarest wines on the planet," said Frank Martell, Bonhams' international wine director."The proposed exemption of wine from duty... has opened up a new dimension in the trade."Nicholas Pegna, Hong Kong managing director of wine merchants Berry Bros and Rudd, said the decision to scrap duty would make the city "very competitive.""A bottle of wine will now be cheaper in Hong Kong than anywhere else in Asia," he said."It will make Hong Kong into a sensible hub for exporting, primarily into China."China will be one of the world's top 10 wine consuming nations by 2010, according to a survey carried out for the global wine and spirits convention Vinexpo.Tsang said scrapping taxes on all alcohol except spirits would cost the government about 560 million dollars (72 million US) a year.But he said revenues from trading in and storing wine could increase by as much as four billion dollars a year as a result of the move, adding it could also help develop tourism in the city.
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