The great designations of origin of Spanish wine paralyze the new vineyards

Wine consumption in Spain has been declining for years. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), just over 322.62 million liters were consumed in 2023, 4.5% less than in 2022 and 9.1% less than in 2019. such a situation, the sector is taking extreme measures.

Not one more vineyard. Measures such as the prohibition of adding new vineyards to the main Denominations of Origin (DO) in the country. First it was the DO Rioja and now, according to the media eleconomista.esthe DO Ribera del Duero is preparing to follow the same course.

According to the media, the decision was made by the assembly of the Ribera del Duero Winery Association (Asebor). This, by having a majority in the Regulatory Council of the Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin council, may lead the body to veto the extension of the DO to new vineyards.

The measure would come into force in 2026.

Following the example. The decision implies following the example of other regions such as Rioja or Bordeaux of limiting vineyard expansions. The DO in charge of regulating Rioja wines announced last year a three-year prohibition period (from 2024 to 2026) in which it limited the growth of the area of ​​vineyards producing this wine.

Division in the sector. The decision comes after several weeks of debate within the agricultural associations that bring together the wineries of the Castilian region. At the beginning of November, the local press echoed this debate, although they pointed out at the time that it was from Asebor itself that it was pointed out that the closure would harm small farmers, as well as the brand itself.

The argument in favor of the measure put forward by many was the need to adapt to the new situation, with a decreasing demand despite the slight rebound that Ribera de Duero wines had last year and that contrasted with the general trend in consumption. of this alcoholic beverage.

Various agricultural associations, such as Asaja, the Association of Winegrowers, Coag, UCCL, UPA or the Regional Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Castilla y León (Urcacyl) supported the request for this moratorium on the growth of farms for at least one year.

Decrease? Beyond the moratoriums, there are those who even talk about decrease. A few months ago, for example, the winemaker Juan Carlos Sancha defended this decrease: “vineyards must be uprooted because it is the way to dignify the prices of grapes and wine in Rioja,” he defended.

The wine market is changing in many aspects, beyond the net amount of wine we consume. One of the changes that producers face is internationalization: we have an increasingly larger assortment of wines in supermarkets and hospitality establishments, while wines like Ribera del Duero have also been gaining weight in international markets.

We don’t drink wine in the same way either. According to the MAPA report, although the quantity of wine has fallen in the last five years, its value has been increasing (1% compared to 2022 and 1.4% compared to pre-pandemic levels). The expense per capita of the Spanish, yes, it has not changed much in the period.

In WorldOfSoftware | There are billions of people worried about climate change, but there is a small group that is not: English winegrowers

Imagen | Jill Wellington