The Control Board is concerned about 2009 prospects and it deems necessary to stabilize Rueda A.O vine plantations.

Rueda A.O. ends 2008 with a 12.33% growth in delivered back labels with respect to 2007. The total of back labels supplied to registered wineries accounted for 41,164,680 which confirms the sustainable and constant growth of this Appellation throughout last years. The new wineries and new vine plantations in the area have led to a market growth.

Out of the 41,134,680 back labels, 41,022,682 were for white wine (a 12.75% more than last year, that is, 4,639,896 more bottles). Wine of Rueda Verdejo type, with 18,248,202 back labels (which means a 44.48% increase compared to white wine that increased 20.47% from last year) highlights.

Since the new Regulation was passed, in August 2008, a total of 112,000 back labels for red and rosé wine were supplied. However, only few wineries have started to introduce this product at the moment as the Regulation was amended just a short while ago.

In negative terms, the drop in sparkling wine sales, with only 200,000 back labels, is to be mentioned. According to the sector, this 60% drop in sales is due to the economic crisis and the low market prices of some cavas which have cut Rueda A.O. sparkling wine sales.

As a result, 2008 Rueda A.O. sales ends with a new historical record, exceeding 41 millions of bottles. The exceptional value of Rueda A.O. wines and the commercial efforts that wineries have undertaken were behind this record.


The Control Board, however, is concerned about 2009 prospects as the declining trend in wine consumption, general speaking, and the country’s worrying economic situation may slow down the Rueda Appellation of Origin’s growth of last years. For this reason, the Control Board suggests that the sector should undertake an important commercial effort and regulate the rate at which vines are expected to be planted the coming years.