World Wine Industry

Question 1

What amount of sales globally does the wine industry account for?

Answer 1

A hundred billion

Question 2

What percentage of the wine industry is located in Europe?

Answer 2

56%

Question 3

What types of roles exist in the wine industry?

Answer 3

Producers, distributers, retailers, allied businesses and consumers

Question 4

From where and when did wine most likely originate?

Answer 4

7000 BCE in the Caucasus Mountains

Question 5

Give a brief history of wine.

Answer 5

Greece dominated early wine production, then passed the torch to the Roman Empire, who carried viticulture with them into conquered lands. When the Empire faltered, the Catholic Church maintained vineyards and refined winemaking techniques. After the Renaissance, wine was in demand as an everyday beverage because it was safer to drink than water. When Europeans began exploring the world, fortified wines and cuttings accompanied them on their travels.

Spanish Catholic missionaries brought Vitis Vinifera to Latin America, whereas colonist carried it with them to North America. In the 1860s Phylloxera devastated most of the world’s vineyards, until it was discovered Vinifera could be grafted onto North American rootstock, which is resistant to the louse.

Prohibition from 1920-1933 further set the industry back, until the symbolic turning point, the Judgement of Paris took place in 1976, putting California wine on the map forever.

Question 6

What are top countries in terms of acres under vine, production, consumption, exports and imports?

Answer 6

Acres - Spain
Production - Italy
Consumption - US
Exports - Spain
Imports - Germany

Question 7

What are GI?

Answer 7

Officially sanctioned wine regions, short for Geographical Indications, also appellations. They can be delineated on either political or viticultural foundations.