Doha – Morocco has established itself as Africa’s second-largest wine producer, manufacturing approximately 40 million bottles annually, making the country the 36th largest wine producer in the world, according to a detailed report recently published by the Spanish newspaper Razón.
“The sun, the Atlantic wind influence, and its mountains give Morocco the conditions to produce quality wines,” the report stated in its opening lines, emphasizing the country’s natural advantages for wine production.
The comprehensive report highlighted Morocco’s rich viticultural heritage, tracing it back to Phoenician and Roman times. It detailed how wine production flourished in the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana, particularly around Volubilis near modern-day Meknes, with amphoras reaching Rome.
As the report noted, Greek geographer Pausanias documented that Lixus, near present-day Larache, cultivated Vitis Vinifera Silvestris, producing wines that graced prestigious Mediterranean tables.
The report cited International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) data, which showed Morocco maintained 42,216 hectares of vineyards in 2022, with a modest average wine consumption of 2.2 liters per capita.
The country was reported to import equivalent to half its production while exporting only 1.45% of its output, positioning it significantly behind South Africa, which maintains triple Morocco’s vineyard area with 124,000 hectares and ranks as the world’s eighth-largest producer.
According to the report, Morocco’s wine industry experienced significant transitions through colonization by the Portuguese (1415-1769) and French. The largest expansion occurred after 1875 due to phylloxera, particularly in sandy soils immune to the vine plague.
The report emphasized how the 1967 Treaty of Rome, which prohibited blending European wines with foreign wines, marked a crucial turning point, leading to vineyard reduction but eventually transitioning from bulk to bottle sales.
The article detailed Morocco’s wine portfolio, which includes red, white, rosé, and grey wines, comparable in quality to those produced in France’s Languedoc and Provence regions.
The country was noted to have two prestigious Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) – Le Coteaux de l’Atlas and Les Côtes de Rommani – and 14 Appellations d’Origine Garantie (AOG).
The report highlighted how historic wineries like Ouled Thaleb (established 1923) and Celliers de Meknès (1964) operate alongside newer enterprises.
Celliers de Meknès currently dominates the market, producing 85% of Moroccan wine across 2,000 hectares in Guerrouane and Beni M’tir. Their Château Roslane première cru, available in red and white, received the country’s first “Château” qualification in 2008.
A significant portion of the report focused on industry challenges, particularly water stress. The report quoted Olivier Perotto, oenologist at Les Domaines Amal, who revealed their natural solution: “Here, from April to October it doesn’t rain; and sometimes, as in 2022, it doesn’t until December.”
He explained their unique approach: “Our secret is the wind that comes from the Atlantic every afternoon; the vines are at 400 meters altitude and that’s what saves us.”
The report provided extensive details about major producers, including Thalvin, which manages Ouled Thaleb winery, producing 8 million bottles annually with 85% consumed domestically.
It also covered Domaine de la Zouina near Meknes, with its 80 hectares of vineyards at 820 meters altitude, noting its unique production of Villa Volubilia wine, which utilizes French oak wood chips during fermentation.
The investigation revealed that both main wineries in Benslimane and Meknes operate under Mehdi Bouchaara’s ownership, while the Groupe des Boissons du Maroc, which became part of Groupe Castel Africa in 2003, maintains significant industry presence alongside its beer production operations.
The report concluded with a detailed top 10 list of Moroccan red wines, highlighting Château Roslan, Tandem, and Carat 19 among the premium offerings, with prices ranging from MAD 195 to MAD 420 ($19.5 to $42), demonstrating the industry’s range and sophistication in the modern market.
Read also: Moroccan Wines: a Pleasant Surprise for Foreign Visitors
