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In Chile, a significant proportion of the 130,000 hectares of vineyards can no longer be cultivated in the coming years. The reason for this is the slump in demand, said Sebastian Labbé, winemaker at Viña Santa Rita, in an interview with Drinks Business. According to figures from the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE), Chilean wine exports fell by around 25 per cent in the first half of 2023 - for both bulk wine and bottled wine. In important markets such as China and the USA, stocks are high due to declining consumption. Domestic consumption, with an average of twelve litres per capita, cannot alleviate the situation either, explained Labbé. He therefore expects that "many vineyards will not be harvested" for the upcoming harvest. These could soon be abandoned. In contrast to Europe, however, Chilean winegrowers would not receive any financial support from the state.
(al / Source: drinksbusiness)