Malbec demand drives wine export rise

Strong demand for Malbec helped Argentina to grow wine exports by value and volume in 2009, official figures show. 

Exports of Argentinean wine rose by 9.5% to US$584.5m for the 12 months to the end of December, compared to $534m in 2008.

Exports rose 4% by volume, show the figures, released today (4 February) by Wines of Argentina.

Consumer demand for Malbec helped Argentina to offset economic recession in key export markets.

Malbec exports rose 20% in value to $231.4m for the year, while exports of Syrah-Malbec wines leapt by 54% to $17.4m. Malbec exports rose 22% by volume.

A growing thirst for Argentinean wines in North America, already the country's largest region for wine exports, also boosted figures.

Exports to the US and Canada rose by 30% and 37% respectively in value, which helped to cushion producers against a 9% fall in exports to the UK.

Higher volume sales rises to North America indicates that consumers have traded down on some wines, however.