Rioja exports surge 4.42% in 2024

Exports of Rioja wine under the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) grew by 4.42% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with key markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States registering increases of 12% and 17%, respectively. This performance stands in contrast to the global decline in wine consumption and the 11.46% drop in exports of Spanish wines with Denomination of Origin between January and November of the same year, according to data from the Spanish Wine Market Observatory. In total, Rioja exported 98.8 million liters to 135 countries, strengthening its position in the international market.

Domestically, Rioja maintained its leadership despite a slowdown in consumption, with a slight 1.87% decrease in volume compared to 2023. Nevertheless, the region remains the benchmark in Spain, holding a 26.8% share in volume and 30.44% in value. Within the national market, Rioja's white wines saw a 1.9% increase, continuing the positive trend of recent years. Among different wine categories, "Reserva" wines performed the best, recording a 7% rise.

Internationally, red wines drove export growth with a 5.32% increase, while the "Crianza" category advanced by 8.7%. In contrast, "Gran Reserva" remained stable, with a slight decline. The United Kingdom remains Rioja's top export destination, followed by Germany and the United States, although the latter stood out for its notable growth in both value and volume. Other markets, such as Ireland, experienced declines compared to the previous year.

Fernando Ezquerro, president of the Rioja Regulatory Council, highlighted these results, stating that despite challenging conditions, Rioja has managed to sustain growth, reflecting consumer confidence and the region's strength. He also emphasized the effectiveness of measures implemented to balance stock levels, such as distillation and green harvesting, which have helped reduce the stock ratio to 3.38—closer to the average aging period of Rioja wines sold in 2024, which stood at 3.12 years.