10 World’s Biggest Grape-Producing Countries

10 World’s Biggest Grape-Producing Countries in 2019– There are 10 Countries with the biggest grape production in the world.  This data comes from FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), United Nations in 2019. FAO, as we know, has the responsibility to develop agriculture and raise human access to nutritious food all over the world.  

Grapes in the world are one of the favorite fruits and have become one of the biggest fruits in production. In 2019, the Total Production of Grapes all over the world was around 77 million tons with a harvested area of 6.9 million hectares.  With the highest production, these countries maybe love grapes and their processed products. In trading aspects, the producers (wine and grape) can even export it to the other country so it can add their countries’ income. Historically, this plant is one of the longest cultivated plants by humans. This plant has been cultivated by humans 6,000–8,000 years ago. From time to time, along with the development of technology and science, the fruit can be consumed directly and some of the fruit can be processed into a variety of derivative products like wine.  

Taxonomically, the grape (Vitis vinifera) belongs to the order of Vitales and the family of Vitaceae. Biologically, this plant is a fruit plant in the form of a shrub that propagates with many branches. Agronomically, grapes are one of the plants that can live optimally in lowland areas and require a long dry season ranging from 4-7 months with a high intensity of sunlight.

In many developing countries, the cultivation of grapes is starting to increase because of the bright and potential market in the future. From all over countries in the world, there are the biggest countries with grape production. This Data comes from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Table Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Grape-Producing Countries in 2019

Brief Description of 5 World’s Biggest Grape-Producing Countries in 2019

1.China

China is the world’s biggest grape-producing country with production reaching 14.2 million tons in 2019. The people of this panda country have a long history with this plant. Along with the Chinese economic revolution pioneered by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s, which was followed by economic growth and the welfare of the people of this land of pandas getting advance, grape production has also increased. In 2000, China’s vineyard area reached 178,000 hectares.

Geographically, the grape growing area in China spreads over several provinces. Some of these provinces include Xingjian, Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning, Henan. The area of ​​grape cultivation in Xinjiang is 32,000 hectares, Hebei is 31,500 hectares, Shandong is 20,900 hectares, Liaoning is 14.2 thousand hectares, and Henan is 11.3 thousand hectares. While in terms of plant genetics, there are several types of grapes that are widely popular in China. the plants consist of 2 types, namely table grapes (consumed directly) and Wine grapes (processed into Wine):

• Table Grapes: Zaomeigui, Zhengzhou Zaohong, Fenghuang No 51, Jing Zaojing, Shangdong Zaohong, Jingxiu, Jingya, Zizhenxiang, Shengxiu, Jingyu, Fenghou.

• Wine grapes: Beichun, Gongliang No. 1, Shuangyou, Zuoshan No. 1.

Periodically, the harvesting time of grapes in China occurs in August-October which are then sold for direct consumption (table grape) or processed into various wine products in China (wine grape).

2.Italy

Italy is the world’s second-biggest grape-producing country with production reaching 7.9-tons in 2019. Apart from being famous for its spaghetti and pizza, this country is also famous for the various types of grapes it produces. Many grapes in Italy as a source of Italian wine

In this country, there are several types/varieties of grapes. The grape varieties include Sangiovese, which is cultivated on 54,000 hectares, Montepulciano on 27,000 hectares, Glera on 27,000 hectares, Pinot Gris on 25,000 hectares, Merlot on 24,000, and Italian for 22,000. The types above are types of wine that are popular in Italy.

Several regions in Italy have become the center of grape cultivation. According to Statista data for 2020, the Regions of Apulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, Abruzzo are some of the regions with the highest grape production in Italy. Grape production in Apulia reached 1.28 million tons, Veneto at 1.25 million tons, Emilia-Romagna at 952 thousand tons, Sicily at 661 thousand tons, and Abruzzo at 448 thousand tons.

3.United States of America  

As a country with the highest wine consumption in the world, it is not surprising that the United States is one of the world’s largest wine-producing countries. The United States is the third biggest grape producer in the world. Total production in 2019 based on data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) reached 6.2 million tons. Grape Cultivation areas spreads over several parts of the United States such as California, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Virginia. However, of all states, California is the main grape-growing area in America, contributing to 85 percent of United States grape production.

According to the side of the cultivar/type of grape, there are several types of grapes that are popular such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Zinfandel. Chardonnay grapes are the most widely cultivated with an area of ​​43,000 ha, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon at 41,000 ha, Pinot Noir at 25,000 ha, Merlot at 21,000 ha, and Zinfandel at 19,000 ha.

4.Spain

Spain is the fourth grape biggest country in the world with production reaching 5.7 million tons. The country is famous for its wine production. The main area of ​​wine production is in the autonomous region of Castilla La Mancha. In terms of type/cultivar, Tempranillo grapes are the most popular grapes in Matador Country with a planted area of more than 100 thousand hectares. In addition, there are other types of grapes that are widely grown such as Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Godello, and Treixadura.

5.France

France is the fifth biggest country in the world with its production reaching 5.4 million tonnes. In terms of cultivation area, there are several central wine-growing areas in the country spread over the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Rhone Valley, The Loire Valley, Champagne, and Provence in France. Meanwhile, in terms of genetics, there are several types of popular grapes in this country. Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah are some of the popular wines in the country.

 Bibliography of 10 Biggest Grape-Producing Countries in the World in 2019

FAOStat. 2018. Production of Grapes: top 10 producers 2018. Accessed Via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize  On May 9, 2021

Shao-Hua, L. Grape Production in China. Accessed via http://www.fao.org/3/x6897e/x6897e05.htm  on 9 May 2021

Karlsson, B. 2018. The most popular grape varieties in Italy – the country of many grapes accessed via https://www.bkwine.com/news/popular-grape-varieties-italy/

statistics. 2021. Amount of wine grapes harvested in Italy in 2020 (in tons), by region. Accessed via https://www.statista.com/statistics/654833/amount-of-wine-grapes-harvested-by-the-agriculture-sector-in-italy-by-region/

Karlsson, B and Per. Karlsson. 2018. The 10 Most Popular Wine Grapes in the USD accessed via https://www.forbes.com/sites/karlsson/2018/06/08/the-most-popular-wine-grapes-in-the-us-chardonnay -and-cabernet-the-full-top-10-list/?sh=246a9a6ffbfb  

Spanish Wine Lovers .2014. The highs and lows of grape varieties in Spain. Accessed via https://www.spanishwinelover.com/learn-37-the-highs-and-lows-of-grape-varieties-in-spain  on May 8, 2021.

Slincard, S. 2019. 7 Favorite French Wine Regions. Accessed via https://www.thespruceeats.com/french-wine-regions-3511287  on 7 May 2021.