DAN'S WINE BLOG-BUBBLE, BUBBLE TOIL & TROUBLE

BUBBLE, BUBBLE, TOIL & TROUBLE

?Friday, May 12, 2023

?Since the Millennium celebrations, sparkling wine sales have been steadily growing, so much so that Champagne had its best EVER sales year in 2022.

?So let’s have a bit of a look at this much underrated end of the wine market. Most people drink fizz but don’t talk much about it like they do with white wines or red wines. When was the last time you heard, or were involved in a discussion of the comparative qualities/values of various bubbles?

?Everybody knows Champagne as they have been peddling their cart strongly for over 150 years. Today, more people are aware of Prosecco (Italy’s main bubbles) and that is about it. Mention Sekt (Germany and Austria) or Cava (Spain) and most people will give you a blank look.

?The actual size of the sparkling wine market globally is difficult to determine. I have seen a number of quite differing figures right up to 3.4 billion bottles (Yes, Europeans quote in bottles not 9.0L equivalent cases) – which sound rather dodgy when you consider the following:

?Champagne 326 million bottles

Prosecco 638 million bottles

Cava 249 million bottles (best year ever 2022)

Sekt – difficult to find accurate figures but best estimate is 368 million bottles – almost all of which is consumed in Germany and Austria.

?Cava has been climbing the sales ladder quite significantly over the last few years. So despite its massive publicity and promotion campaigns, Champagne is in second place in the bubbles race (by volume). Of course the Champagnois will tell you that theirs is by far the best bubbles. Although that was true last century, it is changing this century with some sensational (Champagne beating) sparkling wines being produced in England (Nytimber, et al) Spain and even in Tasmania where the House of Arras produce the best sparkling wines in the southern hemisphere.

?In the No.1 spot by a country mile is Prosecco, which makes one wonder why the Italian Wine industry is going to such immoral lengths to block out Australian Prosecco which on current estimates could not be more than 2-5 million bottles. So here we are selling 0.7% of the Prosecco that Italy sells and they are going to inordinate lengths to stop us, starting with re-naming the grape variety. Are they paranoid or what? ?

?CHILE IS GETTING CHILLY!!:?In other news, we aren’t the only ones experiencing a glut of wine (thanks to the Chinese Government). I have just discovered that Chile has uprooted around 4.5% of its vineyards in the last 12 months. After years of growing exports and plantings, Chile has suddenly started ripping out vines. They have just pulled out arounds 6,000 hectares of vines, down to 38,000 hectares left.

?The biggest loss was in Cabernet Sauvignon which had 2,300 hectares pulled up (roughly 5.7%). In percentage change/drop the worst affected was Syrah (Shiraz) at 8.7%, followed by Pinot Noir at 6.4%, then Merlot and Carménère at around 5% a piece. In the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were the most affected.

?There are a number of reasons for this significant reduction in plantings, with drought being cited as the number one reason, followed by small vine grower being paid unsustainable prices for their grapes and finally a softening of the global wine market. ?

?Well that’s it for another week. Please stay Covid safe (It ain’t over yet!). #chooseaustralianwine and when possible try #emergingvarieties.?Cheers, Dan T.