Conviviality, tradition and economy, wine is loved and appreciated all over the world, but above all it represents an identity product for many countries. Today more than ever, unfortunately, the vineyard needs to be paid attention to: the wine sector is in fact experiencing a serious crisis. The causes are various and require an in-depth analysis, both in terms of production and consumption.
Wine sector data: cultivated area and production
Vine cultivation and wine production represent a leading sector for several countries, including Italy, but at a global level the situation is changing and a significant decline is evident. The world's vineyard surface is in decline for the third consecutive year: the geography of wine in 2023 decreased by 0,5% compared to 2022, reaching 7,2 million hectares. As for wine production, 2023 holds a negative record, production was 237 million hectoliters, a decrease of 10% compared to 2022, to find such a low figure you have to go back to 1961. This data is provided by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, whose president is the Italian Luigi Moio and who in publishing this information does not hide a certain concern regarding what is recorded at a global level.
The causes of the drop in production
Among the main causes of the critical condition in which the sector finds itself, there is certainly a widespread uprooting of vines in the wine-growing regions of the two hemispheres which can only result in a lower quantity of available product. Another non-negligible element that cuts across all sectors is climate change, the occurrence of extreme weather conditions such as frost, floods and droughts have put production at risk in many areas. Evidently, the unpredictability of the climate factor makes it difficult for many companies to survive and those who pay the price are especially those at low latitudes, an example of this is Italy. Finally, last but not least, the spread of fungal diseases has seriously affected many vineyards, undermining the grape harvest.
Wine consumption
Wine has always been a key product on the table, both for festivities and in everyday life, especially for those countries that have a tradition linked to drinking wine as a symbol of conviviality and sharing. In 2023, however, the nectar of Bacchus was less present on the tables of the world: global wine consumption, as reported in the OIV database, in 2023 was estimated at 221 million hectoliters, indicating a decrease of 2,6% compared to the already low data of 2022. This setback was linked to inflation and the lower purchasing power of families, in fact the peak in production costs resulted in an increase in the final price which certainly limited consumption.
