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Activities and Press Review
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THE GLOBAL CONTEXT OF ARGENTINE WINE PRODUCTION |
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Planted Area
Argentina has 210,639 hectares of vineyards (1996), or 2.70% of the
world’s vineyard area. Between 1982 and 1992, an important decrease of
close to 115,650 hectares occurred in vineyard surface area. This is a
significant figure in that it represents approximately 36% of the
previously existing area. This eradication permitted the elimination of
abandoned and decrepit vineyards as well as those that were planted with
varieties of low enological value and large production per hectare. As
of 1992 a slight recuperation was seen, vineyards were planted with
varieties of higher enological quality and other existing vineyards were
worked over.
After its reduction in surface area Argentina occupies today the fifth
place worldwide for its production of grapes. The harvest of that year
had an exceptional yield, producing in the period 1995 – 1997 between
2.0 and 2.5 billion kilograms. In terms of elaboration of wines
Argentina is the fourth largest producer in the world after France,
Spain and Italy. Argentina is thus a large volume producer of wine
available to the world market.
Consumption
With respect to consumption Argentina is the sixth largest consumer in
the world. However, a similar change has occurred in Argentina as has
occurred in other countries that are traditional producers. The
structure of wine consumption is being modified, influenced by changes
in consumer habits and anti-alcohol campaigns. Faced with the general
fall in consumption of wines, an increasing tendency should be noted in
the demand for sparkling wines and wines of superior quality. The
contraction of the internal market due to a reduction in consumption as
well as the globalization process has oriented many companies towards
the exportation of their products. The growing tendency of external
sales has positioned Argentina among the largest wine exporting
countries. It should be noted that the volume exported in 1995 was
influenced by the scarceness of production in Spain caused by a bad
harvest, the result of frosts and droughts.
Mercosur
The “Mercado Común del Sur” or “Mercosur” has obligated its member
countries to pool forces to restructure the businesses in the wine
industry. After intense meetings, a regulatory framework for member
countries was defined in which a regimen of the definition of products,
practices and enological products admitted has been attempted to be
established. Presently, work is in progress to establish common
procedures of control of genuineness yet with the premise of respecting
the characteristics and identity of the wines that are produced in each
region. Forces have been centralized so that the four member countries
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay internalize the Vitivinicultural
Standard of Mercosur. Today’s agreement refers to the interchange and
circulation of bottled products, but this restriction, for the moment,
does not include non-member countries or associated countries, as is the
case of Chile. Chile, a non-member of Mercosur, but with whom an
Agreement of Free Commerce has been signed, persists as the principle
competitor in the southern cone of America. Chile is now the 10th
largest exporter of wine worldwide.
Argentina is the country with the largest surface area of vineyards,
production of grapes, elaboration of wines and consumption per capita of
the Mercosur, which has put it in a relative advantageous position if
tariff barriers disappear. Argentina has increased wine exports to the
rest of the Mercosur countries 62% during the period 1993 to 1995, and
49.64% if data from 1995 and 1996 are compared (according to the 1996
Authorized for Exportation guide).
Through publicity campaigns, Brazil has obtained an increase in its
annual per capita wine consumption to approximately 2.5 liters per
person per year and as such constitutes a promising market. The country
is the principle buyer of Argentine fine wines.
Uruguay is trying to implement a large transformation in its productive
structures. It is initiating an important vineyard conversion to Vitis
vinifera varieties and allocating funds for the investment in technology.
This strategy is based on the production of wines of recognized
characteristics and quality. With an annual per capita consumption of 32
liters it has been the second largest buyer of Argentine wines from 1995
to 1998.
Vitivinicultural activity is relatively new in Paraguay. The country has
a planted area of approximately 2,200 hectares and a per capita
consumption that varies between 2 and 3 liters. It is the principle
purchaser of Argentine table wines in Mercosur (70.16% of sales). |
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