Despite a drop in wine consumption and the economic crisis, sales of wine from the Rueda D.O. progressed to finish 2009 on a positive note.

The Rueda D.O. (Denominación de Origen) finished 2009 with an increase in bottle sales for the year of 5.04% compared with 2008. The number of official back-labels issued by the Regulating Board to the Rueda wineries, a proof of the number of bottles sold, was a total of 43,208,350, which was very positive news for the appellation, considering the present economic climate affecting sales in every sector of the economy, and most particularly in the wine trade. The Rueda D.O. has experienced sustained sales growth over the last years and had only recently recorded a new record high in the volume of sales.  

Of this total of 43,208,350 official back-labels, 42,968,520 corresponded to white wine (4.73% up on last year and an increase of 1,945,839 bottles), Rueda Verdejo being the leading wine-type with 21,102,713 back-labels issued, representing 49.11% of the white wine volume in total and an increase of 15.64% over the previous year for this wine-type.

The number of official back-labels issued for red and rosé wines amounted to 239,830, an increase on 2008, though this does not reflect a significant trend.  

On the negative side, there was a fall in the sales of sparkling Rueda wines, for which barely 49,000 back-labels were issued, representing a drop of 74.39%. Sales of the Rueda Sauvignon Blanc type also fell to 1,364,000, a figure which represents a decrease of 25%, meaning that the Verdejo grape variety is more than ever the majority grape in the Rueda appellation, where Rueda blends (minimum 50% Verdejo)and Rueda straight Verdejo wines now represent 96% of total sales.  

Prospects for 2010 are very difficult given the deep crisis affecting the wine sector and the economy on the whole. However, the latest reports show an increase in sales of wines from the Rueda D.O. in the retail sector and a better performance in the on-trade than wines from other D.O.s in Spain.  

Finally, substantial investment by the Rueda D.O. as sponsors of the Valladolid Basketball Club, which competes in the ACB league under the name of “Blancos de Rueda”, will enable Rueda to gain much greater exposure for the appellation in the market-place, which the Regulating Board hopes will help ensure continued growth for the appellation’s wines in 2010.

Source: Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Rueda
983-868248
www.dorueda.com