Empordà Wine Appellation exported 13% more in 2012

Girona (ACN). –Empordà wine Appellation, located in north-eastern Catalonia, has increased its exports to different international destinations in 2012. With more than 40 small cellars and cooperatives, Empordà has a large assortment of red, white and rosé wines. Garnatxa of Empordà, a sweet dessert wine is also a typical drink from this area of Catalonia, located in the Costa Brava. The main export destinations were the United States, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Canada. These exports have increased by 13% since last year with more than 750,000 bottles sold abroad from the total 5 million bottles produced. In the last few years, the quality of Empordà red wines has been increasingly recognized at national and international level.

The wineries of the Empordà Protected Geographic Indication (Empordà DO) increased in 2012 the amount of bottles sold abroad. With a rise of 13% since last year, the total number of bottles sold almost reached the 5 million mark. 20% of the wine was exported, reaching a record of 750,000 bottles sold abroad. Exports range from 150,000 bottles in United States to 42,000 in Canada.

The Regulatory Council of the Empordà DO has emphasised the importance of these increases in a market that has been affected by the economic crisis. Wine sales have been falling perhaps because it is considered a luxury product that not everybody can afford to buy.

The traditional wine of Empordà was Garnatxa, a sweet dessert wine. Despite of this, red wine was the most popular in 2012, with a 17% increase. In the last few years, the quality of Empordà red wines has been increasingly recognized at national and international level.