Top 10 largest Rioja markets

Sales of Rioja reached an all-time high in 2013, but which countries are fuelling the thirst for the Spanish wine?

In 2013, the DOCa Rioja sold more than 277 million litres surpassing its previous record set before the economic downturn and rising 3.98% from the previous year.

Red Crianza remained the best-selling Rioja style with 101.5m litres sold, up by 5.19%, mainly due to rising sales on the domestic market.

Export sales of Rioja crossed the hundred-million-litre mark in 2013 (102.1 million litres, up 5.39%), accounting for 36.9% of total sales of Rioja.

While Spain remains the biggest consumer accounting for 63.1% of all sales, there has been a marked increase in the popularity of Rioja within export markets with growth seen in all but two of the top 10.

Scroll through to see which are the world’s largest Rioja markets…

10. Russia

Sales (by litres): 2,174,972

Percentage change on 2012: 30.45%

Percentage of total exports: 2.13%

Russia makes its debut in the top 10 of Rioja export markets for its 2013 sales which placed it at 10th place. Of all the top 10 markets, Russia saw the second greatest increase in sales of Rioja in 2013, which rose by 30.45%.

9. Canada

Sales (by litres): 2,278,831

Percentage change on 2012: 18.59%

Percentage of total exports: 2.23%

Joining Russia in the top 10 for the first time is Canada which takes 9th place following a 18.59% growth in sales in 2013, totalling 2.27 million litres.

8. China

Sales (by litres): 2,360,471

Percentage change on 2012: -2.52%

Percentage of total exports: 2.31%

China was recently named the largest market for red wine, with an apparent taste for Rioja.

Of the 155 million litres consumed in 2013, 2.36 million litres were Rioja making it the Spanish wine’s 8th largest export market, despite a slight drop in sales of 2.5% on 2012.

7. Belgium

Sales (by litres): 3,133,993

Percentage change on 2012: 31.72%

Percentage of total exports: 3.07%

The biggest growth in Rioja sales was seen in Belgium in 2013 where sales rose by a massive 31.72% on 2012, placing it as the 7th largest export market for Rioja in the world.

6. Sweden

Älvsborgs fästning, nära Göteborg, Västergötland

Sales (by litres): 3,324,528

Percentage change on 2012: 2.43%

Percentage of total exports: 3.25%

Narrowly missing out on 5th place, and dropping to sixth, Sweden saw an increase in Rioja sales of 2.43% in 2013 totalling 3.32 million litres.

5. Holland

Sales (by litres): 3,702,715

Percentage change on 2012: 20.83%

Percentage of total exports: 3.62%

Nudging Sweden out of fifth place, Holland saw the third largest growth in Rioja sales in 2013 which rose by 20.8% placing it as the fifth largest importer of Rioja in the world.

4. Switzerland

Montreux, Switzerland.

Sales (by litres): 6,252,619

Percentage change on 2012: 8.22%

Percentage of total exports: 6.12%

The top four largest Rioja markets remained unchanged from 2012 to 2013 with Switzerland standing firm in fourth place. Here, sales of Rioja rose by 8.22% totalling 6.25 million litres.

3. United States

White House, Washington

Sales (by litres): 10,472,154

Percentage change on 2012: 18.35%

Percentage of total exports: 10.25%

The United States ranks third among the world’s Rioja importers and has continued its strong growth record in recent years. In 2013, sales reached 10.47 million litres, up 18.35%, with sales of Reserva wines in particular rising by 48%. The Consejo Regulador of Rioja said this was “proof of the good position achieved by the D.O.Ca. Rioja in the U.S”.

2. Germany

Frankfurt

Sales (by litres): 18, 391,668

Percentage change on 2012: -1.8%

Percentage of total exports: 18%

Germany, the second largest market for Rioja, is well-established as a leading Rioja consumer, however it was one of just two countries to see a slight drop in sales in 2013, which decreased by 1.8%. Germany accounts for 18% of total Rioja exports totalling 18.39 million litres.

1. United Kingdom

London skyline

Sales (by litres): 32,793,812

Percentage change on 2012: 0.14%

Percentage of total exports: 32.09%

Rioja’s top importer continues to be the United Kingdom which accounts for one third of all Rioja exports totalling 32.79 million litres in 2013 with growth appearing to have stabilised with minimal change on the previous year.