BORDEAUX LOST 13% IN 2014 COMPARED TO 2013, DOWN TO 3.7 BILLION EUROS, AND THE EN PRIMEUR CAMPAIGN DID NOT DO WELL, EITHER. HOWEVER, THE CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DU VIN DE BORDEAUX IS OPTIMISTIC AND SERENE ABOUT THE FUTURE

The "en primeur" campaign of Bordeaux wines in 2014 did not set off any fireworks as many hoped, following a decidedly negative 2013. Yet in the vineyards of one of the most important wine regions in the world, despite 13% less in sales compared to 2013 (21% less in China and 46% less in the UK), for a turnover of 3.74 billion euros, the mood is positive, at least at the opening of Vinexpo (June 14 to 18, www.vinexpo.com), the top French and world wine event.
“The en primeur sale is no longer such a major event, like it was in the past”, said Bernard Frages, president of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du vin de Bordeaux, “but, since the Euro/Dollar exchange rate is almost even now, sales of 2011 and 2012 vintages have been better.
The value of a "tonneau generique" in 2014 was between 1.100 and 1.300 euros, lower than 2013, which had been a scarce harvest year. Now thanks to a more abundant harvest, turnover has grown 20% per hectare, and that's encouraging. It will take years to get back to a proper financial balance”. In 2015, the CIVB expects substantial stability on the markets, which already would be good news after the last few years of negative signs. They look serenely to the future, despite some recent setbacks, on the strength of a centuries-old history of success on world markets.