PARIS (Reuters) – France on Tuesday revised down its wine production forecasts for 2024 following the results of the grape harvest in the wettest September in 25 years.
The year 2024 promises to be one of the worst vintages in recent years, with particularly significant losses in prestigious regions such as Champagne, Burgundy and Beaujolais.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, wine production for 2024 is estimated at 37.5 million hectoliters, down 22% from the previous year and 15% from the five-year average.
“This decline is due to unfavorable weather conditions that affected all wine-growing areas,” the ministry said in a monthly report.
In Champagne, production is expected to be 33% lower than in 2023 and 14% lower than the five-year average, while overall production in Burgundy-Beaujolais is expected to be 35% lower than the high level in 2023.
Like other crops, such as cereals, grapes suffered from heavy rains in France last year.
In many vineyards flowering occurred in cool, humid conditions, causing coulure (falling of flowers and young berries) and millerandage (formation of small berries). Added to these losses were those caused by frost, mold and hail.
Due to the September rains, in some regions the harvest was brought forward to limit health risks and further losses.