Bordeaux wine exports up

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bordeaux export drive promised after small sales rise

Export sales of Bordeaux wine increased by 3%, but this still represents just 32% of total volume, according to the CIVB Bordeaux Wine Council.

Home market sales were up fractionally by 0.4% during the same period, in a home market that represents 68% of the wine's total sales.

CIVB president Alain Vironneau said that increasing exports was now a priority for his organisation, with Japan, Korea, the US and China amongst the fifteen countries that were seen as priorities for its 21.5m euro (14.6m) promotional budget, which is set to remain in place.

French supermarkets now sell more wine than any other outlets in the country, taking 43% of the market. Some 42% is sold directly by producers or sold through wine shops and restaurants.

The remaining 15% is retailed through discount outlets, and Bordeaux wine merchants are said to regard these as increasing threats to supermarket vendors.

As the sales figures were announced, Vironneau called for a move away from centralised control for the French wine industry. He envisaged a model similar to that found in wine producing countries such as Australia and the US.

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