The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will announce the exact data on wine production in various countries for 2013 in May. If it is confirmed that Spain ranks first in production, the OIV will assist Spain in seeking wine export channels, helping Spain recover from the economic bubble that began in 2008.
Rafael del Rey, manager of the Spanish Wine Market Observatory, expressed his surprise that Spain has suddenly become the largest wine producing country in 2013.
In 2013, the weather in Spain was favorable for grape growth, with the summer being as sunny as ever, along with sufficient rainfall for grape cultivation, leading to a bountiful harvest. Additionally, the significant increase in Spain's wine production is also attributed to improved productivity.
Del Rey stated: "For many years, we have been investing in vineyards to improve their quality."
Twenty-five years ago, the average yield of Spanish vineyards was 1,700 liters per hectare—very low; however, in recent years, the yield has reached 5,000 liters per hectare.
Older, low-yielding vines have been removed; and wherever possible, mechanical harvesting is used instead of manual harvesting to improve production efficiency.
Del Rey remarked, "The productivity of the vineyards has significantly improved."
