Overall wine exports from France dropped 1.4% in volume in 2015, with FranceAgriMer reporting AOC wines down 1.5% for AOC and PGI wines down 5%.
However cool climate wines remained level and an increase in export volumes, with key US and UK export markets seeing notable growth.
The Loire and Burgundy were described as the “powerhouses” of the first half of the year. Wines from the Loire Valley and Centre-Loire recorded their highest growth in the first six months. Wine from the Loire Valley saw exports up 6% overall, supported by a 10% leap in exports to the US. Centre-Loire also grew 6% in the 7 months to July. Yields in the Loire Valley in 2016 were recorded as higher than average.
The UK remained the Loire region’s key export market with around 18,000 HL sold to the UK each year.