Details
Export of Mosel wines has risen sharply
This emerges from the export statistics of the Association of German Wine Exporters (VDW) in Bonn, as announced by the Moselwein e.V. in Trier, Germany.
28 Millionen bottles in 100 markets
From January to December 2021, 214,000 hectoliters of wine with a total value of 90 million euros went from the Mosel cellars to 100 countries around the world. This corresponds to around 28 million bottles of 0.75 liters. The average price rose by almost 30 cents per liter to 4.22 euros from the cellar.
In the previous year, the average price was 3.93 euros per liter. The information relates to bottled, white quality wines of the protected designation of origin Mosel up to 13 percent alcohol by volume. Not included in the statistics are red or rosé wines as well as country wines or German wines that are produced in the region and exported.
"After a few difficult years, in which the export of Mosel wines fell due to low harvest quantities and political problems, our export companies have reached the level of 2014 again in 2021," says Ansgar Schmitz, Managing Director of Mosel e.V. Association. At that time, around 214,000 hectoliters of Mosel wine worth 83 million euros were exported.
Lates challenges resolved
In recent years, the punitive tariffs on German wines introduced by former US President Trump have had a negative impact on exports. Last but not least, the suspension of these punitive tariffs led to an increase in exports to the USA of 26.9 percent in value and 21.5 percent in volume in 2021.
The USA is still by far the most important export market for Mosel wines. With 92,000 hectoliters, 43.1 percent of all Mosel wines exported in 2021 went to the USA. The US market accounted for 39.1 percent of the value of exports, with a total of 35 million euros. The average price was 3.83 euros per liter.
China after USA 2nd best on export-statistics
Other countries are becoming increasingly important for Mosel exports, while the United States' share is steadily shrinking. China has now become the second most important market for Mosel wines, although it is still far behind the USA. In 2021, the wine merchants from the Mosel delivered 12,000 hectoliters worth 7 million euros to China. This represented a volume increase of 62.9 percent compared to 2020, while the value increased by 55.4 percent. The average price for China was 5.90 euros per liter from the cellar. In 2021, China pushed Canada and Norway, where slight decreases in volume were recorded, to third and fourth place in the export statistics for Mosel wines.
Comeback of Mosel wine in Great Britain
Mosel wine experienced an almost sensational comeback in Great Britain last year. Once a market for inexpensive entry-level wines, the British now seem to be buying significantly more higher-quality Rieslings which grapes grow on steep slopes. The value of exports from the Mosel to the United Kingdom went up by around 180 percent, to a total of 5 million euros. The volume, on the other hand, grew “only” by 28.5 percent to 800,000 liters. The average price per liter of wine exported to England was EUR 2.71 in 2020 and rose to EUR 5.91 in 2021. Great Britain thus climbed from 9th place (2020) to 5th place in the Mosel export statistics.
Upswing in Japan, Scandinavia and The Netherlands as well
Also in Japan (up around 45 percent in value and volume), Sweden (up 28.5 and 20.1 percent respectively), Finland (up 23 and 16.6 percent respectively) and Denmark (up 39.4 and 24 7%) as well as in The Netherlands (plus 14.6 and 10.3%), the figures for Mosel wines are pointing upwards. With their thirst for Riesling, the Scandinavian countries have been a steadily growing market for Mosel exporters for years. Exports to these four countries totaled 29,000 hectoliters in 2021. That's more than China, Great Britain and Japan combined.
Two other countries neighboring Germany were also drivers of the positive development. Importers in Poland bought 167.4 percent more Mosel wine than in 2020, the value increased by 146.6 percent. The increase in Belgium was even greater: 225.2 percent in value and 177.6 percent in volume. In the Baltic States, the successful course for wines from Mosel, Saar and Ruwer also continued, especially in Latvia with an increase of almost 52 percent in value and 42.7 percent in quantity.
Soth Korea and Australia spot Moselwein
Statistically speaking, the Swiss spend almost twice as much as the British on Mosel wines. For the Confederates, the price per liter from the cellar was 11.40 euros in 2021. The small neighboring country recorded an increase in value of 13.3 percent in 2021 and an increase in volume of 8.5 percent to 2,000 hectoliters, according to VDW statistics. South Koreans are also increasingly discovering Mosel wine: the Southeast Asian country also imported 200,000 liters from the Moselle, 60.6 percent more than in 2020. The value rose by 75.5 percent.
And even the Australians appreciate aromatic Riesling wines from steep slopes. After all, 100,000 liters went from the Mosel to "down under" in 2021, at an impressive average price of 8.89 euros per liter. This makes Australia number 20 in the export statistics for the Mosel region. Wine from Germany's oldest wine region is delivered to 80 other countries around the world, from Austria to Vietnam, from Spain to Peru. Exports to countries outside the European Union make up around 70 percent of Mosel wine exports, and even 75 percent in value.
Ukraine: Mosel estates donate through wine sales
The war in Ukraine and the cost increases for energy, fuel, bottles, cardboard boxes and containers are currently also causing concern for export companies in the Mosel wine-growing region and are clouding expectations for 2022. Ukraine and Russia are not among the most important export markets for Mosel wine, but both countries (just like other Eastern European countries) recorded an high percentage increases in demand in recent years. In 2021, around 1,000 hectoliters of Moselle wines were delivered to Ukraine and Russia, which corresponds to a total of around 266,000 bottles (0.75 liter).
Several Mosel estates an wine companies are currently taking part in charity campaigns for the Ukraine. After a forced two-year break, the wine producers and traders from the Mosel hope to be able to inspire more customers from all over the world for Mosel wine at the ProWein international trade fair in Düsseldorf in mid-May. The Moselwein e.V. will present the cultivation area with a new, large booth at the fair. 45 wineries and sparkling wine manufacturers use the area as a platform for their business.
Background:
Mosel vintner Matthias Meierer, located in Kesten, looks at well matured wine grapes in one of his steep slopes.
Weinexport USA
