According to the French Ministry of Agriculture's first estimates, dated August 1, this year's production is expected to land between 40 and 42.5 million hectoliters – clearly above the 36.2 million from 2024 and close to the average for the last five years. One hectoliter corresponds to 100 liters.
The forecast comes at the same time as France has been hit by the most extensive forest fires in 70 years in Aude in the southwest. Farmers are warning that large parts of the vineyards there have been damaged, just days before the harvest.
The largest production increase is expected in Bourgogne, Champagne, Charentes, and the Loire Valley. In areas such as Bordeaux, Sud-Ouest, and Languedoc-Roussillon, the increase is limited by the fact that vineyards have been phased out – over 20,000 hectares have been torn up since 2023 as part of state-supported programs to reduce the surplus.
As the EU's largest agricultural nation, France has struggled with overproduction, at the same time as the global wine volume in 2024 fell to the lowest level in six decades due to climate change, declining demand, and economic uncertainty. The industry is also warning of losses of around 1 billion euros after the US introduced a 15 percent tariff on French wine and spirits products.
