Grape wine market in Greece

Earlier Report Observations

The volume of Greece's grape wine market contracted from 285.9 million liters in 2018 to 238.2 million liters in 2022, a trend driven by several key factors. In 2019, strengthened exports to markets like the USA and France coincided with a drop in domestic production, reducing the wine available for local consumption. The following year, a reported decline in sales by industry bodies reflected ongoing internal market pressure, contributing to a further fall in market size. A modest recovery to 252.3 million liters in 2021 occurred despite a multi-year slump in domestic consumption, as increased import dependency helped offset the lower local output.

Regulatory changes introduced new dynamics to the market. The mandatory labeling of ingredients and the implementation of a QR code system for wines from the 2024 harvest, as per European Regulation 2018/273/EC, added new compliance requirements for producers from 2022 onward. In 2023, a recalibration of the excise tax on wine by the Council of State altered retail pricing structures. Consumer habits also shifted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with preferences moving towards larger quantities of familiar wine products, which supported market volume as it grew to 244.3 million liters in 2023.

Supply-side constraints became more pronounced, particularly highlighted by a historically low grape harvest in the 2023/24 season which strained domestic production. By 2024, this limited output led to a sharp 39.95% increase in wine imports, reinforcing the role of foreign suppliers in the Greek market. Concurrently, rising grape prices and climatic uncertainties like drought affected production costs and quality, while new national rules on food-contact packaging materials came into effect.

Production grape wine in Greece

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

From 2017 to 2020, Greece maintained the 17th position globally in terms of grape wine production volume.

Top producers of grape wine, 2017-2020

World map of production of grape wine, 2017-2020

Grape wine production in Greece declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Greece produced 265 million liters of grape wine, marking a 5.6% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 11.1%, which translates to an annualized decline of 3.8%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 300 million liters. The largest year-over-year decrease occurred in 2019 with a 6.6% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Greece in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Exports grape wine from Greece

Exports in kind, K l

Foreign grape wine supplies from Greece declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 26 437 thousand liters, showing a gradual decrease of 9.2% from the previous year. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 30 463 thousand liters, with the largest increase that year at 14.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Greece in kind, 2017-2020, K l

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, France, and the United States consistently led the country structure of grape wine exports from Greece in volume terms. Germany accounted for 47.9% of exports, France for 10.5%, and the United States for 7.7%, together representing 66.1% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Greece in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Greece's grape wine exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 80 716 thousand US dollars, indicating a gradual decline of 9.3% compared to 2019. Over the period 2017-2020, exports decreased by 7.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.5%. The highest export value was recorded in 2018 at 97 554 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 12.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Greece in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the period 2017-2020, Germany, the United States, and Canada were the main destinations for Greece's grape wine exports in value terms. Germany accounted for 38.2% of exports, the United States for 15.0%, and Canada for 7.8%, collectively representing 61.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Greece in value, 2017-2020

Imports grape wine to Greece

Imports in kind, K l

Greece imported 11 227 thousand liters of grape wine in 2020, down by 48.6% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 40.1%, equating to an annualized decline of 15.7%. The maximum import volume was recorded in 2019 at 21 857 thousand liters, with the largest increase that year at 33.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Greece in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Throughout 2017-2020, Italy, Spain, and France played the leading roles in grape wine imports to Greece in volume terms. Italy accounted for 58.6% of imports, Spain for 13.4%, and France for 6.3%, together making up 78.3% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Greece in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year increase, grape wine imports to Greece declined. In 2020, imports were recorded at 33 233 thousand US dollars, representing a 38.6% decline versus the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 19.4%, with an annualized decline of 6.9%. The peak import value was in 2019 at 54 158 thousand US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 21.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Greece in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, France, Italy, and Spain made the biggest contribution to grape wine imports to Greece in value terms. France accounted for 40.0% of imports, Italy for 37.1%, and Spain for 7.1%, jointly accounting for 84.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Greece in value, 2017-2020