by Victor de la Serna
According to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, wine consumption in Spain was down another 2.8% in the first three months of 2007 compared with the same period of 2006. While vinos de mesa (table wines) are down
12.4%, denominacion de origen (appellation) wines are up 11%. The latter now represent over a third of the eleven million hectolitres consumed each year in Spain.
The panel also revealed that sales in the food retail represent 43% of all wines consumed in Spain. Sales in restaurants and hotels have been decreasing these last years due partly to strict drink driving enforcement, but figures in this sector are not as reliable as is the retail.
