No one wants now to bring stocks of wines

Is the growth of the wine market the soluble in the economic crisis The issue is in all heads on the eve of the opening of the Vinexpo fair, Sunday in Bordeaux. Thus, all booths have been sold to some 2,400 companies, either as in 2007. Only problem, organizers reported the defection of some heavy weight, as the Americans Gallo and Constellation, who decided to "cut in the budgets of communication", explains Robert Beynat, the Commissioner of Vinexpo: "these two companies each had an Office of about 50 people in London that they were simply closed." Gallo even cancelled the construction of a $ 4 million bottling plant in London. "So far, other exhibitors arrived and three buildings and the Congress Palace are full". Side visitors, the fair, which attracted 50,000 Professional in 2007, in hopes this year 45,000 large maximum.

Consumption is progressing

Is that all is not rosy. Of course, the 35 billion bottles produced in 2008 will be sold. The spectrum of overproduction has generally disappeared. But the crisis weighs on prices. Thus, in Bordeaux, Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations suffer, with a course of less than 950 euros 900 litre barrel. "It is the first time that prices go down, while we had a small harvest", note Bernard Farges, wine of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur Union President. Is also the problem of the 2007 vintage, very expensive, and less well noted, and which remains on the arms of many traders.

If the phenomenon is particularly visible for great Bordeaux wines, it is General. Thus, a price war was triggered in the champagne. With the degradation of the environment, certain types of wines are particularly at sentencing, and trade between producers, traders and wholesalers is very affected. No one wants now to bring stocks of wines.

Overall, however, the wine world extends. Indeed now drinking wine almost everywhere in the world, with a global market estimated at $ 152 billion last year, an increase of 14 in five years, according to a survey of the British firm International wine and spirit record for Vinexpo. Consumption is progressing globally except in three places: France, Korea and the South in the city of London, "because traders", says Robert Beynat. The study anticipates even an overall increase of 9 by 2012. Particular thanks to the Russia and especially China.

The Australia in bad posture

A Shanghai, where I am from a few days, local actors tell us does not really be affected by the crisis", provides Sylvie Cazes-Regimbeau, President of the Union of the great wines of Bordeaux. Last year, Chinese imports soared by 38, to EUR 260 million, according to the Consulate of France. The France is at the top of suppliers (39), before Australia (15), Chile (15), these three countries weighing more than two-thirds of Chinese imports. "The consumer is encouraged by the Government. The objective is to develop the vineyard and to rely on local consumption. "In the end, this will benefit imports, as in the United States in the 1970s," says Sylvie Cazes-Regimbeau.

So far, all the actors did benefit not. The Australia, who was of scarecrow a few years ago, is in bad shape, with years of drought which succeed each other. Robert Beyrat, the future giant, is the Spain: "as in France, consumption began to decline and she led a very qualitative restructuring of its vineyards around large companies."