Austria’s Wine Export Revenues Reach a Historical High
(AWMB, January 2008) - Austria’s wine sector enjoyed a successful economic year in 2007. The domestic wine-growing policy made important gains on the EU level, and was able to secure an additional € 20 Million from the EU coffers for quality improvement measures. While Austrian wine maintained its domestic dominance, wine export revenues reached a historical high because of the continuous increase in bottled wine exports. Also, the dac family is happy that the Kremstal is now the first wine-growing area along the Danube river with dac appellation status.
The EU Wine Market Reform Agreement Considers Austrian Interests
In the EU wine market reform agreement reached shortly before Christmas, Austria successfully defended its standpoint on many issues, averting changes that could have had significant negative consequences for Austria’s wine sector.
Concerning planned vineyard clearings, the involvement of member countries was imperative to those clearing agreements made. As a result, sensitive wine-growing areas such as terraces or steep hill sites - which are so important in Austria – have been exempted from clearing.
The proposed prohibition of chaptalisation, an oenological process used for years in Austria, Germany and France, was able to be prevented; the limits, however, were slightly reduced.
Austria was especially successful with budget allocation. Over the coming years, Austria’s wine sector will receive, in addition to its regular budget funds, a total of € 20 million for investments, quality improvement measures and marketing.
Wines from Austria: leading domestically while constantly increasing in export revenues
The domestic gastronomy sector is Austrian wine’s most important partner, with 58% of Austria’s wine production consumed in it; in restaurants and eating establishments, 84% of the wine sold to customers is Austrian. The remaining 42% of Austrian wine production, consumed at home in Austria, is sold increasingly via retail shops and stores. Direct sales at wineries have decreased.
Austrian wine exports are particularly positive. With 2005 and 2006 as generally low-volume vintages, the 2007 export level remained at approximately 51 million liters, but with a net added value increase of 14% - around € 83 million. "This is because of the decrease in barrel-wine exports and the jump in high-end bottled wine exports,” explains Willi Klinger, managing director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB). The positioning of Austrian wine as a unique, natural quality product has been leading to the highly sought after - and needed - increase in net added value.
Germany remains the most important export market, followed by Switzerland and the USA.
Download:
Export 2000 - 2007 Most Important Export Countries (pdf, 22 kB)
| Austria’s Wine Export Revenues Reach a Historical High | |
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 Bottled Wine Exports Booming Foto-Download: jpg, 200 dpi, 241 kB © AWMB |
 Austria's Wine Export revenues Reach Historical High Foto-Download: jpg, 200 dpi, 690 kB © AWMB |
Press Information / January 2008
AWMB/Susanne Staggl
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