Total sales of Rioja wines grew by 0.63% in 2024, despite a global decline in wine consumption, reaching over 240 million liters sold.
The Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin (QDO) maintains its leadership position, holding a 30.44% market share in value within Spain.
Resilience Amid Global Challenges
In an adverse global market where wine consumption continues to decline, the Rioja QDO has shown remarkable resilience. With 328,461,466 bottles sold, equivalent to 240,046,448 liters, the region has managed to sustain growth.
Domestic wine consumption in Spain faced continued decline, as confirmed by the consulting firm Nielsen. Rioja sales in Spain reached 141,218,785 liters in 2024, marking a 1.87% decrease from 2023. Despite this contraction, Rioja maintained a dominant position, securing 26.8% of the domestic market in volume and 30.44% in value.
The category of Rioja whites stood out, experiencing a 1.9% increase, following a 7.13% growth in the previous year. Among wine types, the "Reserva" category led growth, rising by 7% in volume.
International Success
While the global wine sector struggled, with Spanish DO wine exports declining by -11.46% from January to November 2024, Rioja wines demonstrated a strong international presence. Sales abroad grew by 4.42%, with 98,827,453 liters exported to 135 countries.
Key international markets showed encouraging results:
- United Kingdom: Rioja's top export market saw a 12% sales increase.
- United States: The second-largest market in value and third in volume experienced a 17% growth.
- Germany & Ireland: These markets, ranking second and sixth respectively, faced slight declines.
Red Rioja wines led the export surge, with a 5.32% increase. The "Crianza" category saw the highest international growth, climbing by 8.7%, while "Gran Reserva" remained stable with a minor decrease.
Strategic Outlook & Stock Balance
The President of the Rioja Regulatory Council, Fernando Ezquerro, emphasized that despite economic difficulties, consumer confidence in Rioja wines remains strong. Rioja’s stability and reputation continue to reinforce its competitive advantage globally.
Stock management strategies have played a crucial role in maintaining balance. Measures such as distillation and green harvesting have led to a decline in stock ratios, bringing them closer to the ideal balance. The stock-to-sales ratio fell to 3.38, aligning closely with the 3.12-year average period of permanence for marketed wines.
Source: DOCa Rioja