Areas under vines still shrinking worldwide

Vineyards are shrinking throughout the globe, says the International Organisation of Vine and Wine as they cover 7.57 million hectares in 2012 (-0.3% compared to 2011). Decrease is driven by European vineyards, with vineyards within the EU being down 0.8% last year, down to 3.49 million ha. The largest decline occured in Spain (-1.4%), followed by Italy (-1%) and France (-0.8%). From 2008 to 2011, the European campaign of vine pulling led to a sharp decline of the European vineyards (-269,000 hectares), which seems to continue, although at a more moderate pace.

Outside the European Union, the world's vineyards grew by 0.4%, with China showing a particularly dynamic growth and Chile still growing while, in most of the other wine-producing countries, areas planted in vines are stable at best, if not shrinking.

[Source: Estimations from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine]