Alsace reports sparkling UK sales rise

UK sales of Alsace fizz Crement d’Alsace grew by 76.9% by volume in the first eight months of 2016, helping it to overtake Switzerland as the region’s eighth biggest export market.

The picturesque wine-producing village of Colmar in Alsace.

Overall, sales of Alsace wines imported into the UK increased by 6.7% by volume in the first eight months of 2016, and by 8.8% by value in the first seven months, according to the latest figures released by the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace (CIVA). It means that the UK is now the region’s eighth biggest export market, ahead of Switzerland.

The spike in sales comes in a year that will see the region mark its 40th anniversary as an official AOC, and follows a “very good but small volume” 2015 vintage.

The 2015 vintage was described as “truly exceptional” by André Hugel last year, who noted similarities to the “outstanding” 1947 and 1976 Alsace vintages. However the crop was necessarily small – the third successive low-yielding year – driving stock levels dangerously low.

Producers have therefore welcomed the 2016 harvest, which will see volumes return to a more normal level. Around 1.15 million hectolitres are expected, which according to the CIVA will be “just enough” to replenish stocks.

The CIVA’s export manager Foulques Aulagnon described 2016 as a “promising”, but “technically difficult” year, which was defined by a heavy rainfall at the start of April. Overall 360mm of rain were recorded in the vineyards this year, markedly more than in recent years.

“These rains, alongside low temperatures at the beginning of spring, significantly slowed the vegetative cycle, and some parcels even succumbed to hoarfrosts”, the CIVA said. “Thankfully, temperatures rose again towards the start of May, allowing a tentative resumption of the vegetative cycle, but the vines continued to grow in spurts, never benefiting from a full week of heat and dry weather. Due to the ambient humidity, the threat of mildew was felt throughout the vineyards.

“Flowering in mid-June lasted a fortnight, with relatively difficult conditions thanks to persistent rain and below-average temperatures for the season. There was also rain during the month of July, but sustained warm, dry weather finally arrived at the beginning of August. The region even suffered a heat-wave in the last fortnight of the month, with high temperatures helping to maintain a satisfactory health status. But although in general ripening progressed well during this period, some vines planted on light soils suffered drought – somewhat paradoxical given the climate during the first six months.”