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Global sales of Rioja wine grow by 5m bottles in 2014

Published:  13 February, 2015

Global sales of Rioja wine grew by 5 million bottles in 2014, hitting a new record of 281 million litres of wine, driven by a thirst for barrel-aged Rioja wines and whites.

Exports grew by 3.6% to reach 105 million litres, accounting for 37.6% of total sales. The growth was prompted by increasing demand for barrel-aged Rioja wines - which account for 62% of red sales - and he region's white wines, up 13.7%.

The domestic market was stable, which the Consejo considers a positive outcome given Spain's current financial situation.

In 2014, the DO Calificada Rioja sold a total of 280,789,424 million litres of wine, 90% being red wine, while the remainder is divided between rosé, accounting for 12.42 million litres, and white. The region's white wines saw the greatest growth - up 13.7% to 14.85 million litres.

Key findings:

  • Sales of barrel-aged red wines (Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva categories) rose by more than four million litres, accounting for 62% of total red wine sales
  • Red Crianza is the best-selling Rioja wine category.
  • Rioja Reserva sales continue to rise as in previous years, with 62% of the wines in this category being sold in foreign markets.
  • As in 2013, Gran Reserva sales experienced the highest percentage increase in 2014, particularly in the Spanish market. 

Exports:

  • Rioja enjoyed double-digit growth in the UK (+10.3%), Mexico (+27.61%) and Russia (+12.30%).
  • The top-ranking importers continue to be the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Switzerland - they account for more than 70% of the Rioja's exports.
  • The United Kingdom strengthened its position as leading importer - it accounts for 34.19% of Rioja sales abroad.
  • Exports to Germany and the United States remained stable but the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden saw a downturn.

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