While it might seem that every other bottle on the shelf tells a global story, the truth is poured from a much closer source: in 2022, a staggering 82% of the world's wine flowed from European Union vineyards, a dominance we'll explore through the year's most revealing production, consumption, and trade figures.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the European Union produced 145 million hectoliters of wine, representing 82% of global wine production.
- France led EU wine production in 2022 with 49.7 million hectoliters, a 13% increase from 2021.
- Italy produced 39.5 million hectoliters of wine in 2022, ranking second in the EU.
- EU wine consumers drank 99 million hectoliters in 2022, down 2% from 2021.
- France had the highest per capita wine consumption at 43.9 liters in 2022.
- Italy's per capita consumption was 43.3 liters in 2022.
- EU exports of bottled wine reached 10.2 billion bottles in 2022.
- EU wine exports value hit €23.5 billion in 2022, 70% of global trade.
- France exported €11.8 billion worth of wine in 2022, largest exporter.
- EU imports of wine totaled 4.2 million hl in 2022, mainly from third countries.
- Germany imported 14.5 million hl in 2022, largest EU importer.
- UK imported 13.8 million hl post-Brexit in 2022.
- EU wine industry generated €130 billion turnover in 2022.
- Wine sector employs 2.5 million people directly in EU, 12 million total.
- France's wine industry contributes 13 billion euros to GDP, 1% share.
The EU dominates global wine production, with France leading and Italy and Spain following closely.
Consumption
- EU wine consumers drank 99 million hectoliters in 2022, down 2% from 2021.
- France had the highest per capita wine consumption at 43.9 liters in 2022.
- Italy's per capita consumption was 43.3 liters in 2022.
- Portugal consumed 51.9 liters per capita in 2022, EU leader.
- Germany's consumption totaled 20.2 million hl in 2022.
- EU still wine consumption was 82 million hl in 2022, 83% of total.
- Sparkling wine consumption in EU rose to 15 million hl in 2022, +5% YoY.
- UK, post-Brexit, imported 13.5 million hl from EU in 2022 for consumption.
- EU household wine consumption averaged 25 liters per year in 2021.
- 60% of EU wine consumption is table wine, 25% quality wine in 2022.
- Women represent 45% of EU wine drinkers, up from 35% in 2010.
- Millennials (25-40) account for 35% of EU wine consumption volume in 2023.
- Low/no alcohol wine consumption in EU grew 15% to 2.5 million hl in 2022.
- France's domestic consumption fell to 26 million hl in 2022.
- Italy consumed 24.5 million hl domestically in 2022.
- Spain's per capita dropped to 20.5 liters in 2022 due to generational shift.
- EU online wine sales reached €5 billion in 2022, 12% of total consumption value.
- Organic wine consumption in EU up 20% to 12 million hl in 2022.
Consumption Interpretation
Europeans are cautiously trading their beloved bulk table wine for pricier fizz and no-proof alternatives, yet the Portuguese are still leading a dignified, per-capita charge straight to the bottom of the bottle.
Economic Impact
- EU wine industry generated €130 billion turnover in 2022.
- Wine sector employs 2.5 million people directly in EU, 12 million total.
- France's wine industry contributes 13 billion euros to GDP, 1% share.
- Italy wine exports support 1.3 million jobs.
- EU wine tourism generates €10 billion annually.
- Average EU wine farm income €25,000/year in 2022.
- PDO/PGI wines add €3 billion premium value yearly.
- EU invests €200 million/year in wine CMO support.
- Spain's wine sector turnover €11 billion, 1.2% GDP.
- Germany's wine industry €30 billion market value.
- 25% of EU rural employment linked to wine.
- EU wine R&D investment €500 million annually.
- Portugal wine exports €900m, 0.5% GDP contribution.
- Climate change costs EU wine €1-2 billion/year by 2030 proj.
- Organic wine premium 30-50% higher prices.
- EU wine retail price avg €5.50/liter in 2022.
- 40,000 EU wine estates, avg 80 ha size.
- Hungary wine sector €1.2 billion turnover.
- Greece wine contributes 3% to ag exports value.
- EU carbon footprint of wine 2.5 kg CO2/liter avg.
- 15% of EU vineyards certified sustainable in 2022.
- Water usage in EU winemaking 5 liters per liter wine.
- EU reduced wine sulfites 20% since 2010 regs.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While generating a staggering €130 billion annually, employing a quarter of rural Europe, and fueling a vital cultural ecosystem from vine to tourism, this industry—a backbone of the continent—faces a sobering paradox: its very future is fermenting under the threat of climate change, which could drain billions from the very landscapes it sustains.
Exports
- EU exports of bottled wine reached 10.2 billion bottles in 2022.
- EU wine exports value hit €23.5 billion in 2022, 70% of global trade.
- France exported €11.8 billion worth of wine in 2022, largest exporter.
- Italy's wine exports grew 8% to €7.8 billion in 2022.
- Spain exported 22.5 million hl in 2022, volume leader.
- US was top destination for EU wine exports, 25% share at €6 billion in 2022.
- Germany exported €1.2 billion, mainly to US and China in 2022.
- EU sparkling wine exports to UK were 1.8 million hl in 2022.
- China imported €1.5 billion EU wine in 2022, down 10% due to economy.
- Portugal's exports reached €900 million in 2022, Port wine key.
- EU bulk wine exports were 9.5 million hl in 2022, to Germany and UK.
- 85% of EU wine exports are bottled, averaging €2.30 per liter in 2022.
- Netherlands re-exported 4.5 million hl of EU wine in 2022.
- Canada took 8% of EU wine exports, €1.8 billion in 2022.
- EU Prosecco exports hit €2.1 billion to US alone in 2022.
- Bordeaux exports to Asia grew 12% to €1.2 billion in 2022.
- EU wine export growth to Japan was 5%, €800 million in 2022.
- Hungary exported €250 million, Tokaji to US up 15%.
- Greece's exports doubled to €150 million in 2022.
- EU wine exports to Switzerland stable at €1.1 billion in 2022.
- Romania exported 1.5 million hl, mainly bulk to Germany.
- Austria's exports €450 million, Grüner to US.
- EU bag-in-box exports grew 10% to 1.2 billion liters in 2022.
- France's Champagne exports €5.2 billion in 2022.
- Italy's Chianti exports 300 million bottles annually avg 2022.
Exports Interpretation
The EU is drowning the world in excellent wine, proving that while they may squabble over regulations, they are in ferocious and lucrative agreement when it comes to filling the global glass.
Imports
- EU imports of wine totaled 4.2 million hl in 2022, mainly from third countries.
- Germany imported 14.5 million hl in 2022, largest EU importer.
- UK imported 13.8 million hl post-Brexit in 2022.
- Netherlands wine imports 11.2 million hl in 2022, transit hub.
- Belgium imported 5.8 million hl, much re-exported.
- Sweden's imports grew 3% to 4.1 million hl in 2022.
- Top import source for EU was South Africa at 0.8 million hl in 2022.
- Australia supplied 0.6 million hl to EU in 2022.
- Chile's EU imports 0.5 million hl, premium wines.
- US wine imports to EU 0.3 million hl in 2022.
- EU sparkling wine imports 0.9 million hl, mainly Prosecco intra-EU.
- Value of EU wine imports €1.8 billion in 2022.
- Finland imported 2.2 million hl, high per capita.
- Denmark's imports 3.5 million hl in 2022.
- Austria imported 2.8 million hl domestically.
- Poland's wine imports up 12% to 1.9 million hl in 2022.
- Hungary imported 1.1 million hl, sparkling focus.
- Czechia imports 1.4 million hl annually avg 2022.
- Romania imported 0.7 million hl in 2022.
- EU New World wine imports avg €3.50/liter premium.
- Bulgaria imports minimal 0.2 million hl.
- Greece imported 0.4 million hl for blending.
Imports Interpretation
The EU's thirst for wine is a complex import web, revealing a stark internal dichotomy where nations like Germany and the UK drink by the hectare, while the collective bloc sips cautiously from the outside world, paying a premium for the privilege.
Production
- In 2022, the European Union produced 145 million hectoliters of wine, representing 82% of global wine production.
- France led EU wine production in 2022 with 49.7 million hectoliters, a 13% increase from 2021.
- Italy produced 39.5 million hectoliters of wine in 2022, ranking second in the EU.
- Spain's wine production reached 28.5 million hectoliters in 2022, down 20% from the previous year due to drought.
- Germany produced 8.4 million hectoliters of wine in 2022, focusing on quality white wines.
- Portugal's wine output was 6.9 million hectoliters in 2022, with growth in Douro region varieties.
- In 2021, EU vineyard surface area totaled 3.2 million hectares, 45% of world total.
- EU white wine production in 2022 accounted for 52% of total EU output at 75.4 million hl.
- Sparkling wine production in the EU reached 8.5 million hl in 2022, led by Italy's Prosecco.
- Organic wine production in EU vineyards covered 530,000 hectares in 2022, up 10% YoY.
- Hungary produced 2.8 million hl of wine in 2022, specializing in Tokaji Aszú.
- EU grape yield averaged 72 hl/ha in 2022, varying from 40 in France to 90 in Spain.
- In 2023, early estimates show EU production at 152 million hl, rebounding from drought.
- Greece's wine production was 2.2 million hl in 2022, with Assyrtiko gaining popularity.
- EU rosé wine production hit 7.2 million hl in 2022, Provence leading at 80% share.
- Austria produced 2.5 million hl in 2022, 60% white wines like Grüner Veltliner.
- Romania's output reached 5.1 million hl in 2022, Eastern Europe's largest.
- EU PDO wine production volume was 110 million hl in 2021, 75% of total.
- Bulgaria produced 1.2 million hl in 2022, focusing on red blends.
- Croatia's wine production was 0.9 million hl in 2022, Plavac Mali dominant.
- EU per capita vineyard area averaged 0.72 ha per inhabitant in 2021.
- Slovenia produced 0.6 million hl in 2022, known for orange wines.
- Slovakia's small production was 0.04 million hl in 2022.
- Luxembourg produced 0.015 million hl in 2022, Crémant de Luxembourg specialty.
- Cyprus output was 0.15 million hl in 2022, Commandaria fortified wine.
- Malta produced 0.008 million hl in 2022, Mediterranean climate focus.
- EU wine production costs averaged €1.20 per liter in 2022, highest in France at €1.50.
- In 2022, EU crushed 170 million tonnes of grapes for wine.
- France's Bordeaux region produced 5.2 million hl in 2022.
- Italy's Veneto region led with 9.8 million hl in 2022, Prosecco hub.
Production Interpretation
In 2022, Europe solidified its role as the world's oenological powerhouse, producing a staggering 82% of the globe's wine, yet the story within was a tapestry of climatic resilience, with France celebrating a rebound, Spain grappling with drought, and every nation, from Germany's precise Rieslings to Portugal's robust Douro reds, fiercely guarding its own liquid territory and traditions.
Sources & References
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