2014 marks record low for Swiss wine consumption: report

The wine consumption in Switzerland was 264 million litres last year, a 2.8-percent decrease compared to 2013 and a record low in history, according to the latest report by the Federal Office for Agriculture (OFAG) of the country.

According to the report, while the consumption of both domestic and imported red and white wines fell by 3.3 and 1.7 percent respectively, sparkling wine consumption increased by 5.2 percent, with close to 18 million litres drunk last year.

These figures come amid negative results for autochthonous wine, with just 98 million litres of Swiss wine consumed in 2014, marking an 8.2 percent decrease.

According to OFAG, poor grape harvests in 2013 and 2104 contributed to recent consumption trends as negative meteorological conditions hindered production.

Despite a sunny and warm spring last year, a cold and wet summer slowed grape development.

OFAG's report also highlighted the large-scale presence of drosophilia suzukii, a fruit crop pest, which forced a number of producers to harvest earlier than originally planned to avoid extensive damage to their grapes.

Consumption trends also changed. Despite the greater production of red wine in the confederation, the amount of Swiss red wine drunk in 2014 fell by 8.8 percent. Swiss white wines overtook red wine consumption last year.

The three main grape varieties grown in Switzerland all experienced a slight decrease in the surface area dedicated to their production: minus 1 percent for pinot noir, minus 2 percent for chasselas, and minus 3 percent for gamay. Endit