Castilla-La Mancha Wine Export Volume Falls 24.3% in First Half of 2026

Export revenue proves more resilient than volume

Exports of wine, must, grape juice and other wine-sector products declared from Castilla-La Mancha fell sharply in the first half of 2026. Shipments declined 24.3% year on year to 5.87 million hectoliters, while their value dropped 12.4% to €443.6 million, according to Vinetur, citing an analysis by Del Rey AWM based on Spanish Tax Agency data through June.

The contraction represented a loss of about 1.9 million hectoliters and €62.9 million over six months. Revenue declined less rapidly because the average export price rose 15.7% to €0.76 per liter, an increase of €0.10 from the same period a year earlier. Del Rey AWM associated the price movement with higher market prices and reduced product availability following a smaller harvest, but the increase was insufficient to offset the decline in shipments.

Bulk wine, must and juice drive the contraction

Bulk wine and the combined category of must and grape juice accounted for most of the downturn. Of the 188.3 million liters lost during the semester, bulk wine contributed 123.4 million liters and must and juice another 56 million liters. Together, the two groups represented 96% of the total volume decline.

Bulk wine remained the foundation of the region's wine trade despite the contraction, accounting for 80% of still-wine export volume. Wines with protected designation of origin represented 16%, while protected geographical indication wines held a smaller share. Bulk wine generated €183.5 million, or 56.6% of the €323 million earned from still-wine exports. Packaged still wine contributed €118.4 million, equivalent to 36.5%.

Bulk wine revenue declined 18.9%, or €41.8 million, while sales of must and grape juice fell 17.2%, a reduction of €17 million. Prices nevertheless increased across most segments. The average bulk wine price rose 10% from €0.48 to €0.53 per liter, while must increased 22.7% from €0.57 to €0.70. Packaged still-wine prices gained 4.9%, and sparkling-wine prices rose 5.4%. Vermouth and semi-sparkling wine were the only major categories to record slight commercial improvements.

Packaged white wine outperforms red and rosé

Packaged still-wine shipments decreased by a comparatively moderate 6.4%. Within the segment, protected designation of origin wine volume fell 10%, while protected geographical indication wine dropped by nearly 20%. Varietal wines and products without a geographical or quality indication were more stable.

Packaged white wine was the strongest category, increasing 0.3% in volume and 0.6% in value, supported by varietal wines and products without an indication. This growth came despite lower shipments of protected designation white wine. Packaged red and rosé wine sales, by contrast, declined 10.8% by volume.

The bulk segment showed steeper reductions across colors. Bulk white wine exports fell 24.5% in volume and 20.2% in value. Bulk red and rosé wine shipments declined 29.5% by volume, although revenue decreased by a smaller 16.8%.

France, Italy and Germany account for most losses

France, Italy and Germany generated 87% of Castilla-La Mancha's total export-volume decline. Shipments to France fell by 65.8 million liters, or 30.1%, while exports to Italy dropped by 63.9 million liters, or 63.3%. Germany remained the largest destination by volume at 170.6 million liters after reducing purchases by 33.8 million liters, a decline of 16.5%.

Italy also recorded the largest relative reduction in spending, cutting purchases by €28 million, or 59.1%, to less than €20 million. French purchases fell by slightly more than €19 million, or 18%, to €87.4 million. Germany reduced spending by €10 million, or 9.1%, but remained the leading market by value at €102 million.

Only Russia, the United States, Egypt and Finland increased volume among the 20 leading destinations. Ten markets raised spending, including the United Kingdom, Portugal, China, Japan and the United States. Germany, France, Italy and Portugal together represented 67% of export volume and 52% of value, leaving regional suppliers exposed to purchasing changes in other wine-producing countries, Vinetur reported.