2009 vintage in the Loire: some figures – rosé overtakes red

I have received some interesting figures from Interloire for vintages 2005 to 2009. This latest vintage is the largest since 2005 with an overall total of 2,850,202 hls produced – in 2005 the figure was 2,875,147 hls. In comparison to 2008  – the smallest vintage of the second half of the decade (2,102,759) – 2009 was up by 36%. 

Production of sparkling wine was at a record level in 2009 despite the economic crisis. 344,305 hls up by 25% on the previous year (274,864hl). With the exception of 2008 the amount of sparkling wine produced has been on steady progression over the five years. In 2005 the figure was 273,899, which may have been low due to this being a hot year. Whites shot by by 50% in 2009 to 1,273,812 compared to 851,676. This was due to the severe early April frost that hit the Pays Nantais so badly in 2008.

Rosés also increased markedly – up by 37% to 632,184 compared to 452,406 (2008). The amount of rosé produced has progressed over the five years and probably reflects its increased popularity. Red wines, however, showed the smallest increase on 2008 being up only by 17% to 599,901 against 513,813 in 2008. 2009 was the only year in the five when the production of rosé exceeded that of red – surely an indicator of rosé's currently popularity. In 2005, 708,944 hls of red was made compared to 512,784.