Netherlands became D.O. Rueda main export market in 2012
According to the Rueda appellation statistics, 11,793,400 75 cl. bottles were exported in 2012, amount that represents the 18.6% of the total sales of the appellation (63,376,004) in the same period of time.
Central European countries remain as the most important exportation markets for D.O. Rueda wineries. Netherlands is on top of this ranking with a total of 3,021,591 bottles sold by 38 wineries (2,073,520 in 2011). Right after Netherlands, Germany can be considered the second market attending to volume sales with 2,685,203 bottles being sold by 44 wineries (2,132,585 in 2011), followed by the U.S.A. -1,138,594 bottles and 40 wineries-, United Kingdom -945,262 bottles sold by 36 wineries-, and Switzerland with 852,339 bottles and 42 wineries in the Swiss market.
The active presence of Rueda wineries in international markets shows their high interest in foreign trade.
These figures are the consequence of the strategic plan that the Rueda Control Board has implemented in the last 3 years, focusing its promotional efforts in Central European countries and targeting wine professionals and consumers depending on the characteristics of each market.
As for 2013 the D.O. Rueda Control Board will maintain its commitment to the promotion in international markets with an important increase of the budget dedicated to international promotion, especially in the U.S.A., country that will become the main promotional objective of the appellation for the coming years. The aim of this strategic plan is to gain the recognition that Rueda wines already have in the European countries, creating awareness for the Appellation and its autochthonous variety, the Verdejo grape.
In addition, an important budget will be allocated to the organization of promotional events in some of the most important European markets such as Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and United Kingdom.
After the successful participation of the Rueda Control Board in Prowein professional trade fair, the Rueda Control Board is organizing an onsite promotion in Germany in cooperation with 35 prestigious wine shops located all around Germany.
Moreover, next week will be the start of the Rueda Gastronomic Weeks in Switzerland that will take place for at least one month (May 2 – 23) in 14 high-standing restaurants in the main cities of Switzerland: Basel, Bern, Genève, Lausanne, St. Gallen and Zürich. Last year the promotion was prorogued in some of the restaurants due to the success of the promotion.
Two opening events of the gastronomic Weeks will take place on 22nd. and 23rd. of April in Zürich and Basel to introduce the participating wines and wineries to the press, importers, sommeliers and other wine professionals. They will consist in a menu paired with wines from Rueda appellation of origin which will be conducted by the prestigious German sommelier David Schwarzwälder. It will be the perfect occasion to get to know a little bit more about Rueda region and its wines.