Slump in German wine exports

Dusseldorff - A relatively poor grape harvest in Germany led to disappointing wine export sales in 2014, the German Wine Institute (DWI) announced ahead of an international wine and spirits fair that starts Monday in Dusseldorf.

German wine producers exported 120 million litres of wine worth €315m in 2014, a 9.2% reduction in volume and a 5.6% reduction in value on 2013, the DWI said.

"The reduction in exports can be attributed first and foremost to the below average harvest in 2013 which was not enough to supply almost every export market in full," DWI chief executive Monika Reule said.

The average cost per litre achieved by the winegrowers rose by 10 euro cents over the same period to €2.68, she added.

Quality wines, which account for three-quarters of the total export market, achieved 14c more per litre in 2014 than 2013, or on average €2.97 per litre.

The biggest export market for German wines continues to be the United States, followed by the Netherlands.

The Pro Wein international trade fair for wines and spirits runs from Monday to Wednesday at the Messe Dusseldorf conference and exhibition centre.