With the global pandemic of COVID-19 having effected so many industries negatively, there have been a few positive results as well. Surprisingly, consumer behaviour towards wine has been positive. Just by the end of March, a boost of 42% in wine sales was witnessed. This goes on to show that wine alone plays a major role in the global economy.
Alcohol consumption has increased because people find it as a means of relieving stress on their own. With the lockdown affecting how much people get to go out, social activities and having fun has become limited. According to the Health Care Department at the University of Utah, alcohol sales in the United States alone have increased by 55%.
Global Wine Exports
Total global wine exports stand at $36.1 billion. The map depicts the countries which have greater than 0.01% of global wine exports. The wine exports of each country are portrayed by a circle. The smaller the circle, the lesser the value of the particular country's wine exports in 2019, and vice versa. The darker the circle, the higher the country's contribution to worldwide wine exports.
While New Zealand and Australia are vital contributors, It can be seen that the global wine market is dominated by European countries. Europe is giving the world three-quarter of the total wine exports, with Italy and France alone giving half of the world's wine exports. Africa and Asia together have lesser wine exports than Australia alone, whose wine exports are worth $2.1 billion.
The Impact of Global Warming on Wine Production
As a result of global warming, wine production techniques are being altered. Winemakers have begun testing various grapes and areas with less direct sunlight. Due to changes in the environment, countries that were down the bar may rise to the status of major competitors. One such country is anticipated to be England, as the climate of Italy and France continues to come under the impact of global warming.
Whether it is COVID-19 or global warming both have significantly effected wine exports. Moreover, choosing places for vineyards has now become a more comprehensive matter.
