In 2000, the price was 1.38 euros, but ten years later it was 2.07 euros. Until last year, the value of 3.04 euros in the high. "Exports are worthwhile, also because good prices can be achieved on some markets," said a spokesman for the wine institute. The quality of german wine has improved, so it has been possible to charge higher prices. Strong buyers of riesling, spatburgunder and other german wines are the u.S., the netherlands, great britain and norway.
However, total wine export sales have recently remained constant – in 2018, domestic producers took in 307 million euros, roughly the same as the previous year’s figure of. Volumes fell by a good five percent due to a weak wine harvest, but prices increased.
In the meantime, german winegrowers will receive a little support from the federal government for their exports. The ministry of agriculture decided on friday that the domestic wine industry will again be included in the federal export requirement. This involves participation in seminars or business trips to explore the market and to initiate business with foreign trading partners. Half of the costs for this will be reimbursed.
The winegrowers from the palatinate, rhineland-palatinate, baden and other growing regions are already receiving support from another source, namely the german wine institute in bodenheim, rhineland-palatinate, a kind of marketing organization for the industry. However, this facility only allows the industry to meet with trading partners in 14 countries, including great britain, the USA, china, russia and scandinavia.
The federal government’s export requirement, in turn, is based on purchases in countries outside these regions, such as ireland. Already in the years 2011 to 2014, the domestic wine industry was in the federal government’s list of demands, at that time the expenditure for the wine industry per year amounted to between 120.000 and 150.000 euro. How much money is now available for the winegrowers has not been determined in advance. The demand budget, which is valid for the entire agri-food sector, is three million euros a year.
The aim is to open up new sales markets, said federal agriculture minister julia klockner (CDU). "And to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in particular with the demand funds made available."
This sunday the pro wein trade fair starts in dusseldorf, at the world’s largest branch meeting wine exports are a topic.