El consumo de vino en España se recupera en 2021

After a year marked by restrictions and the closure of the hospitality trade, wine consumption in Spain grew once again. The figures pointed to an upward trend sustained over several months, a sign of relief for the whole sector.

Domestic consumption returns

The reports from the Spanish Wine Interprofessional Organisation reflected a clear recovery in consumption compared with the previous year, with several consecutive months of growth. Behind that figure there is more than statistics: it is the return of wine to the table, to the terrace and to the after-dinner chat, following a period in which much of the trade was closed or running at half throttle.

The reopening of bars and restaurants pulled consumption up strongly, because in Spain a significant share of wine is drunk away from home. That channel, the hardest hit during the pandemic, was also the engine of the recovery. Added to this was a shift in habits that had been building for some time: during the months of lockdown many people started buying better wine to enjoy at home, and that interest did not vanish when the terraces filled up again.

Production on the way down

The flip side of the coin was a shorter harvest. Wine and must production fell compared with the previous campaign, affected by the weather and by the natural cycle of the vineyard. Less volume is not always bad news: in a market with tight stocks, it helps to hold up prices and to give value to the grower's work.

• Consumption: rising for several months in a row.
• Production: below the previous campaign.
• Exports: kept a firm pace in foreign markets.

Exports hold firm

While the domestic market was rebuilding itself, sales abroad continued at a good pace. Spain is one of the world's largest wine exporters, and that strength served as a cushion when domestic consumption was flagging. The combination of a recovering national market and stable exports sketched out a clearer horizon. In international markets, wines with identity are gaining ground, those that tell a story of native variety and territory, and there the Spanish designations have plenty to say.

What it means for the visitor

Behind these figures there are wineries that reopened their doors, resumed tastings and once again welcomed visitors. The recovery in consumption goes hand in hand with wine tourism: the closer people get to the vineyard and the barrel room, the stronger the bond they form with the product. If you fancy being part of that story, take a look at the designations of origin and plan your next getaway.

The figures confirm what could already be sensed on the ground: Spanish wine holds on, adapts and finds a way to fill the glass once more.