Will We Cope With A Global Prosecco Shortage?

There may be a prosecco shortage on the horizon. Which is as good a reason as any to head to your local German supermarket with a credit card, and cushioned trailer, to transport a few hundred bottles of the stuff to the secret fizzy wine cellar you just started building.

Export experts, try saying that fast five times, are warning that supply of the golden, occasionally pink, liquid will not be able to keep up with thirsty demand because last year’s harvest was not the plentiful boozy harvest it was expected to be.

Roberto Cremonese, export manager for Italian prosecco company Bisol, told industry publication The Drinks Business that “Last year’s harvest was very poor, and down by up to 50 percent in some parts, so there is a very real possibility of a global shortage.” Cremonese went on to warn of price hikes as rumours were rife in the booze world that importers were going to hold up stock due to the lack of flowing prosecco. Brokers aren’t releasing details of their stock just yet, so Cremonese estimates that we’ll know the score come August.

And just why is prosecco in such an uncharacteristically sad state of affairs? Italian prosecco growing region Valdobbiadene had a mixed bag of a harvest, with vines growing upland doing well and escaping the curse that was last year’s harvest. Newly planted vines in the lowlands were the unlucky plants, and ended up soaked after planting. This is not good for yielding grapes.

Thankfully The Journal have done some investigating into how this will affect Ireland’s prosecco supply. Turns out we’ll be grand, according to National Off-Licence Association spokeswoman Evelyn Jones, as importers have sorted their stash for all your summer barbeque needs.

The Drinks Business

Follow Jeanne Sutton on Twitter @jeannedesutun

LOVE this? Why not have IMAGE delivered directly to your door each month? Check out this month’s offer here.