Spanish wine drinkers: less is more

The Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) has released a study on at-home wine consumption in Spain for 2006 (Dec. 05 through Nov. 06), comparing this to the previous period.

The trends for 2006 show a decrease in table wine consumption of -1.7% to 308 million liters, but increases in: D.O. wines +4.5% to 117 million L and in Cava and sparking wines +4.9% to 28 million L. Overall volume is steady to (+0.4%) at 477 million L among all categories of wine.

The overall value of wine consumed rose by 6.3%: D.O. wines are up 11.2% to 439 million euros (which is 46% of the total domestic expenditure on wine), Cava and sparkling wines are up by 9% to 133 million euros, and table wines are down by -1.1% to 314 million euros.

Meanwhile, wine sales at restaurants have been falling by a reported 9%. This drop has been attributed to Spain's new stricter policies against driving under the influence.