Prowein: Organic viticulture under the spotlight

Published: 05 March, 2012

Spain is leading the charge when it comes to growth in organic vine production - it has tripled in the last two years to more than 54,00 hectares.

This year at Prowein, the international wine and spirits fair which kicked off yesterday in Dusseldorf, there is a special focus on how the major European wine-producing countries are performing in the organic sphere.

Spain's federation of organic producing companies (FEPECO) reports that its strong growth is mainly happening thanks to cooperatives and moves by top producers like Torres to go organic. Its top region is Castilla La Mancha where organic viticulture more than doubled, to 29,000 ha, in just one year.

Germany has around 5,000 ha of organically certified vines, equating to 5% of total production. Ernst Buscher, from the German Wine Institute said: "Organic cultivation now represents an extra benefit that consumers are prepared to pay for."

France has also posted growth in organic production, it is expected to make up 6% of viticulture by the end of 2012. Its main regions are Alsace, with 9.1% of vines organic, while Languedoc Rousillon has the largest area under organic cultivation, at 12,600 ha.

France's ecological vine association FNIVAB, says there were 2,800 organic wine estates in France in 2008, accounting for 10% of wine turnover, and identifies a strong upward trend.

Around 42,700 ha of vines in Italy were cultivated ecologically in 2009, which was an increase of 6% over 2008.

"Ecologically produced wines are playing an increasingly important role on the international wine scene," said Ralph Dejas, managing director of Ecovin, Germany's largest association.

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