Wine producers in Germany petition for increased wine consumption

Encouragement for increased wine consumption issued by German vintners

The Zukunftsinitiative Deutscher Weinbau, a union of German winemakers, has launched a call to action aimed at strengthening local businesses in the wine industry. This appeal is being made on various platforms, including social media (Facebook, Twitter) and traditional media (E-mail, Print).

The union, led by founder and chairman Thomas Schaurer, is not asking for pity but encouraging a conscious purchasing decision that benefits local businesses. The call is not about promoting excessive alcohol consumption, but about supporting the local wine industry.

Up to 50% of winemaking families in Germany could face economic ruin within a few weeks due to current prices for grapes and bulk wine that are at only 40 to 60 cents per liter, far below production costs. Many winemaking businesses may not survive a second year of such low prices.

The union is criticizing winegrowing associations for trying to downplay the threat to the existence of winemaking families. The German Winegrowers' Association (Deutscher Weinbauverband) has joined the call, urging Germans to consume one more bottle of German wine per year and per capita, instead of imported wine.

Currently, the annual per capita consumption of wine is around 20 liters. The union believes that a slight shift in the consumption ratio could save thousands of livelihoods in the local wine industry. The union is not limited to promoting alcoholic wine; buying alcohol-free wine or grape juice also helps the local wine industry.

The union is emphasizing that their call to buy one more bottle of German wine per year is about the decision to keep the wine industry and its value creation in Germany. This call is not limited to alcoholic wine; buying alcohol-free wine or grape juice also helps the local wine industry.

The Zukunftsinitiative Deutscher Weinbau wants to inform the population openly and transparently about the existential challenges facing German winegrowing. The union's call is about making a conscious purchasing decision that benefits local businesses and keeps the wine industry thriving in Germany.