Greek Wine: The Success Story Filling Winemakers’ Coffers – Economic Postman

For the first time, Greek wine exports reached 100 million euros last year. This is an impressive feat if you consider the size of Greek vineyards (and the problems that befall them), but also the global giant that dominates the field. That is, France, Italy and Spain, which are countries with huge traditions and strong networks in the international market.

But even more impressive is the increase in the average export price, which has risen significantly in recent years, especially in third countries (outside the European Union). “Greek wine is phasing out retcinia… for retcinia, that is, cheap wine that is of low quality and plays in the first category with its quality marks,” say people in the industry.

More revenue

According to data from the Hellenic Wine Association (HEO), the average unit price of Greek wine exports to the EU last year was €2.58 per kilo (+10% from 2021 and +15.2% from the five-year average) while the average price was The export unit to the countries of the world is 5.34 euros (+14% over last year and +12.3% from the five-year average).

This means that we sell much more expensive to third countries. Something, as explained by those in the know, mainly concerns Germany, where we sell at a low price, and America, where for the first time the average unit price exceeds 6 € / kg.

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In particular, in Germany, which for many decades absorbed the largest amount of Greek wine (second by far), the average selling price was 2.55 € / kg (+10% from 2021 and +17% from the five-year average). Years ).

On the other side of the Atlantic, namely in the USA, which stands out as a new promised land for Greek wines (along with Canada), the average price exceeds 6 €/kg for the first time, reaching 6.37 €/kg. That’s up 14.4% from 2021 and up 18.2% from the five-year average.

Canadians also paid more for Greek vineyard “treasures”, with the average price coming in at €5.3/kg, up 0.73% over the previous year and 9.2% over the five-year average. However, the price fell slightly in the UK, down to €3.77/kg, down slightly by 1.55% from 2021, but up 16% from the five-year average.

Greek oenologists, vineyard’s powerful leaf

Greek winemakers seem optimistic about the future. Exports, they say, keep going…this year too, putting Greece firmly on the world wine map.

A catalyst was played by the winemaking process, which for several decades moved to another level. A new generation of oenologists with the necessary knowledge and corresponding passion can produce oceanic products. They are able to compete with the great powers in the field, French and Italian wines, and make the most of the unique characteristics of Greek varieties: Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Agiorgitiko, Malagouzia, Xinomavro, Sabvatiano, Vidiano, Athiri and others.

The lack of talented wine scientists has been the Achilles’ heel of Greek wine for many. Unlike the traditional powers that emphasized a particular area in order to gain an advantage.

The young man…in the vineyard

What fills the sector with greater optimism is the willingness of young people to work in Greek vineyards. In the past decade, wineries across the country have multiplied and from 600 it is estimated they have increased to about 1200!

The country’s wine-growing regions, such as Nemea, Amyntaio, Santorini and Naoussa, acquired new units that used local varietals and not just varietals … an impressive number considering that at the time the Greek economy was in the grip of a painful crisis. On the other hand, of course, there is no shortage of units with serious survival problems, such as Tsantalis, which according to information supporting the wall …