France will become the world's largest consumer of organic wine

Paris (AFP)

France should become the world's largest consumer of organic wines in 2021, dethroning Germany, says the British institute IWSR in a benchmark study presented Monday in Paris.

In 2021, France will consume twice as much organic wine as in 2013, doubling Germany as the leading consumer country. And in 2023 it will represent 20% of global consumption, provides the study for the interprofession SudVinBio Languedoc, before the show Millésime Bio to be held from 27 to 29 January in Montpellier.

The craze for organic wines is widespread around the world, including in Spain where the domestic market takes off, while world consumption of wine has a tendency to settle, notes the institute, which tracks the alcohol markets in 157 country.

In 2019, Germany is the leading consumer of organic wines in the world, ahead of France, the United Kingdom and Italy.

In 2023, according to the projections of the institute, France should take first place in front of Germany, followed by Great Britain and the United States.

In response to this strong demand, the three major wine producing countries of the world, Italy, Spain and France, will significantly increase their certified organic surfaces.

Thus, of 165 million bottles of organic wine in 2013, the French production, passed to 361 million cols in 2018 (+ 119%), should still progress of 70% by 2023 to 613 million, according to the IWSR .

In Spain, production of 241 million passes in 2013, which has already increased by 42% in 2018 to 341 million, is expected to increase by 76% by 2023, to 599 million.

In Italy, the world's largest producer, the 420 million bottles released from cellars in 2013 rose to 708 million in 2018 (+ 68%) and should increase to 924 million in 2023 (+ 30%), according to the institute's projections. .

In the countries of the European Union, a wine is certified organic if it meets specifications prohibiting the use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides and GMOs. The use of additives and oenological aids is prohibited, while the level of sulfur is limited.

Organic certification is obtained after a three-year conversion with an accredited independent body.

© 2019 AFP