The sale of Bordeaux wines fell by 5% in volume in 2020 under the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic in particular, but the Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wines (CIVB) noted "
encouraging indicators
" for the last months of 2020 , particularly for export.
Read also: French exports of wines and spirits fell by 13.9% in 2020
With 3.92 million hectoliters of wine sold, or the equivalent of 522 million bottles, Bordeaux is in a third year of decline, according to figures communicated to AFP on Friday by the CIVB.
Structural reasons have handicapped Bordeaux wines in recent years: decline in the Chinese market, lower consumer appetite for red wine - 84% of Bordeaux production - and drop in attendance at supermarkets in favor of small outlets.
To these reasons was added in 2020, as for all vineyards, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This has severely affected restaurants, bars and events and disrupted exports, not to mention the application of taxes by the Trump administration in the United States, the political crisis in Hong Kong and last-minute uncertainties. around Brexit.
"
High expectations
" on China and the United States
The contraction in sales in supermarkets and medium-sized stores, where the Bordeaux vineyard sells the majority of its bottles sold in France, is 4% in 2020, with 142 million units.
The CIVB attributes it in particular to the fact that the French, who have had less opportunity to party because of health restrictions have turned
"to less valued products, to the detriment of appellation wines
".
The Bordelais is the first AOC vineyard in France.
For export, Bordeaux wines are experiencing a decline in 2020 limited to 3% in volume (1.73 million hectoliters or 232 million bottles), in particular thanks to good figures for the last three months of the year. (+ 13% in volume), which the CIVB describes as a “
positive sign of recovery
”.
The inter-branch organization places "
high expectations
" in particular on its main export markets, China, a country which reduced its wine imports by 30%, from all origins combined, in 2020 because of the pandemic, and the States -United.
Over one year, the Chinese market is declining (-13% in volume) but the last quarter is promising (+ 18%) and the recent application by China of heavy anti-dumping sanctions on Australian wine could play a role. favor of Bordeaux wines in 2021.
Read also: Taxes: French wines and spirits exports to the United States should fall by one billion euros per year
In the United States, the rebound in the last quarter is even sharper: + 29% and the arrival of the new Biden administration gives hope for a possible suspension or a reduction in Trump taxes.
At the beginning of January, CIVB president Bernard Farges said he expected a “
strong rebound
” in 2021 after two “
very bad years
” 2019 and 2020.
