Home›Commodities›Agriculture›French winemakers face forecast for 30-year low harves…

French winemakers face forecast for 30-year low harvest amid drought

Agreste estimates output of just under 34 million hectolitres, down 6% year over year and 17% below the 2021 to 2025 average.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Agriculture

French winemakers are forecasting a 30-year low harvest after an extreme drought and heatwave season damaged grapes, according to France’s agriculture ministry and its Agreste statistics body, the Guardian Business reports.

Initial estimates point to production of just under 34 million hectolitres from this year’s harvest, a drop of 6% versus last year and 17% below the 2021 to 2025 average.

Agreste said the decline reflects both fewer and smaller vineyards and, mostly, extreme weather, including intensified soil drought and heatwaves that caused sun scald, defoliation, and grape wilting, which reduces harvest volumes.

The report also notes concerns that vineyards could be affected by smoke taint linked to wildfires, and it highlights large regional differences, including Champagne expected to see nearly half the previous year’s harvest and the Jura region projected to have a 37% loss.

More like this

Sources