Bourgogne celebrates a successful 2019, despite market uncertainty

The winegrowers of Bourgogne had a solid sales year in 2019, in the face of plenty of international turmoil.

Photo by Matt Lamers on Unsplash
Photo by Matt Lamers on Unsplash

The Bourgogne wine sector had a bumper sales year in 2019, despite the combined impact of American tariffs, Hong Kong unrest, Brexit uncertainty and the spread of Covid-19.

“For the first time, Bourgogne wines even exceeded one billion euros in terms of export revenue,” said a statement from the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB). “However, the euphoria inspired by this new record was quickly tempered by the international context.”

Despite the many disruptions to international markets, Bourgogne’s exports grew by 9.2% by volume and 10.3% in value, while market share also grew in France.

The BIVB noted that although the 2019 harvest was smaller than usual – down 32% on the previous year – the size of the 2018 vintage meant there was enough wine to supply the market. Altogether, the amount of wine available for sale, when 2018 and 2019 were combined, is 7% higher than in previous years. This is despite the fact that there was 33% less white wine available in 2019 than in 2018, and 26% less red wine.

While bulk sales fell 24% in the first six months of the 2018-2019 campaign, bottled whites were up somewhat, at 3%. This growth, said the BIVB, was “above all due to white wines”, with Mâcon-Villages, Chablis, Petit Chablis and Bourgogne Aligoté all up by double digits.

Another big winner was Crémant de Bourgogne, whose sales have surged.

It seems that the reports that came out earlier in 2019, suggesting the shine had gone off Burgundy, were premature. The 2019 vintage, at least, has caused considerable excitement, with the sales of wine in barrel reaching nearly €12.3m at the November Hospices de Beaune auction, one of the highest sales ever.

The full BIVB report can be read here.

 

 

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