What to do when there’s a low wine year

Friends, the unthinkable has happened.

Well, maybe more non-thinkable than unthinkable. Something has happened that I never spent any time worrying about.

World wine production has fallen, a lot. Like, a LOT a lot. I’m talking, fallen to levels not seen since the 1960’s, a lot.

You might remember news reports this time last year of bad weather in France. Or, more likely, you don’t. The weather was cold and rainy and hail made an appearance – all of which are bad news for vines trying to get their mojo going for a fresh growing season. And then there was a heatwave in Italy, which didn’t help their vines do their thing.

And some people still think climate change isn’t a thing.

Combine that with all the extreme weather across the globe last year and it means less grapes than normal – and less wine than normal, too. The International Organization of Vine and Wine released a statement last week with the grim news, telling the world that wine production was down almost 10% last year.

Now for the big question:

What do you do when there’s a low wine year?

Branch out

If you can’t find your favourite wine because there just isn’t any you could branch out. Try a different style or a new region. It might be annoying to not be able to find your fave, but on the other hand it’s a great opportunity to try something new.

If you like fuller bodied wines I suggest checking out Portuguese reds. They’re great value and, unlike Spain, Portugal seemed to come out of 2017 with regular levels of wine.

If you’re more about fruity whites then look no further than North America. Both the US and Canada make excellent chardonnay in a variety of styles, I guarantee you’ll find something you like.

Shell out

You know what they say about supply and demand. When supply goes low and demand goes high, the dolla-dolla-bills come out.

If you love French, Spanish or Italian wine (and aren’t interested in branching out) you might just have to crack open your wallet.

According to the folks at Rabobank, even the lower-priced bulk wines could be affected, seeing a price rise as wine brands seek to stay financially viable.

If I can’t even afford my Tuesday $10 wines, you know things are dire.

Check out

Of course, you could always curb your consumption. The best way to not spend more on wine is… well, to not spend more on wine. Buy less, or don’t buy at all.

I know, it’s a long shot, but it’s still an option. 😉