CI Vins & Spi: UK Wine trade (document anglais)

Introduction to the UK wine trade

Background

Vines planted periodically since Roman times but no significant production until 21st century.

In the 1100’s England becomes major export market for Bordeaux wine due to links with Aquitaine during the Hundred years ‘war.

In the 17th century “claret” becomes the common term for all red wine from Bordeaux, adapted from the French word “clairet”

Since the 18th century British and Irish family names have become associated with some of the best known Bordeaux wine businesses: Barton, Lynch, Talbot – and possibly O’Brien?!

British consumers have always had a broad taste in wines from other regions too, particularly for Burgundy, Alsace, the Rhone, Germany and of course Champagne.

The British Empire and commercial links overseas have put the UK at the forefront of all export markets for New World Wines. New World wines have therefore come to dominate the UK market by a considerable margin.

TOP 10 Wine consuming Countries

Wine consumption L/person Total Wine consumption 9L cs

1. Italy 43,2 1 Chine 734m

2. France 43,2 2USA 345m

3. Slovenia 39 3 France 3110m

4. Portugal 37,9 4 Italy 295m

5. Switzerland 37 5 Germany 282m

6. Montenegro 35,1 6 UK 142 m

7. Austria 34,3 7 Argentina 116m

8. Germany 31,4 8 Japan 106m

9. Denmark 31,4 9 Russia 103m

10. Malta 27,8 10 Spain 99M

…. 22. UK 20,2

UK current facts and figures

• There are 28m regular wine consumers in the UK (out of 64,1 m total pop)

• Wine imports equal 1,6 billion bottles per year

• Consumption of alcohol is in steady decline from a peak in 2004

• Wine sales in general have declined by 1% to 3% per year since 2009

• However sparkling wine sales are up 21% over the last 5 years

• £39bn (€49bn) spent on alcohol almost 25% of the country’s total grocery spend

• From this the UK government collected £17bn (€21bn) in taxes, £3,7bn (4,6€bn) of which came from the wine industry or £2,55 per 75cl bottle

• Among European countries, only Ireland has higher taxes on wine.

Brand name and grape variety are more important to consumers than producer or regional identity.

The five most popular wine grape varietals are:

1. Pinot

...