Greek wines: One in two glasses consumed is bulk wine

The production of cheap wines is increasing in Greece, while the wines of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are decreasing with the consumption of bulk wines representing one in two bottles consumed.

Despite the important steps that have been taken in recent years with significant successes of Greek wines in foreign markets, the various problems created by the economic crisis with consumer preferences and increased costs for producers, combined with difficult weather conditions , cause significant effects on domestic production.

It is indicative that Greek wine production in the period 2022-2023 decreased by 13.86%, according to the official notification of the competent department of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food to the European Commission.

The data

According to the latest data, processed by the Central Cooperative Union of Vine Products (KEOSOE), wine production appears reduced compared to the 2021-2022 production, while Greek wine production is also reduced by 10.73% and compared to average of the previous 5 years. This fact is an element of concern for the sector, as in other wine-producing countries of the European Union, wines with a geographical indication represent high percentages of the total production, many times more than 80%, while in Greece they represent 29.28 %, i.e. just three out of ten wines produced.

At the same time, 296.2 hectares of Greek vineyards with wine-making varieties were abandoned across the country in 2022, mainly due to the high costs faced by grape growers, which they cannot cope with. According to the latest data, on July 31, 2022, the area of Greek vineyards amounted to 64,020.6 hectares. “This area is slightly increased by 324.5 hectares (0.51%) compared to the previous year (63,696.5 hectares), which is due to new plantings through planting permits concerning 620.3 hectares,” explains KEOSOE.

However, although domestic consumption jumped to pre-pandemic levels, the data show that the participation of non-standard or bulk wine in the entire Greek market is at 50%.