04/04/2017 (Agence Europe) – In 2015, there were 2.4 million holdings in the EU cultivating 3.2 million hectares (ha) of vineyards, according to figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday 4 April. The average area per holding was 1.3 ha with significant differences between member states. 2.5 million hectares (78%) of vineyards were given over to the production of grapes for quality wines: protected designation of origin (2.1 million ha, or 83% of total quality wine area in the EU) and protected geographical indication (0.4 million ha, or 17%). With almost 1 million hectares of vineyards (or 30% of EU total area), Spain had the largest area devoted to grapes for wine in 2015, followed by France (803,000 ha, or 25%) and Italy (610,000 ha in 2010, or 19%). (LC)