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A survey by the French online wine retailer and auction house iDealwine among its customers has determined the impact of climate change on consumer buying behaviour. 1,653 registered users took part, their average age is 49 years. One fifth of the respondents said they were aware of climate change and wanted to change their consumer behaviour.
Around 45 percent said they frequently buy from different wineries regardless of climate change. Among the under-35s, the share is as high as 57 percent. Currently, French people buy mainly from the Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhône regions. With regard to climate change, preferences would shift towards Burgundy, Loire and Rhône, and for non-French towards Burgundy, Bordeaux and international wines.
Around half of the survey participants do not want to change their ratio between white and red wines in consumption. But 45 percent say they want to buy more white wine in the future. 74 percent are interested in older vintages, also because they are perceived as more balanced than younger vintages. Although 48 percent consider alcohol content an important criterion when buying, only 18 percent want to choose different wines because of the increasing alcohol content. One fifth had not noticed any change in taste or alcohol content, but two fifths had. At the same time, 26 percent speak of a qualitative improvement of the wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc, Cabernet Franc from the Loire and Pinot Noir from Alsace. They like the fullness and opulence of the new wines.
6 percent of the respondents have been buying organic wine for a long time, but 20 percent want to buy more organic wine in the future because of climate change. 9 percent are interested in biodynamic wine, only 3 percent in natural wine. At iDealwine, the share of organic or biodynamic wines in direct sales (without auctions) is almost 50 percent.
More than half are of the opinion that winegrowers have already reacted to climate change. For 7 percent, these changes in the future "will be a primary criterion for the purchase decision". Three quarters were in favour of the reintroduction of old grape varieties as a response to global warming, about half for ageing in amphorae and whole bunch pressing. For more than a third, more sustainable production, packaging and transport methods are important for their purchasing decision.
The majority of participants are thinking about stockpiling wine to counter future price increases. Accordingly, about one third would be willing to accept a price increase of up to 10 percent.
(al / Source: iDealwine; Photo: 123rf)