Blow to French wine: production plunges to century-lows

 France is set to produce approximately 34.9 million hectoliters of wine this year, the lowest volume recorded so far this century, according to new estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Although the forecast improved from the 33.9 million projected last month, thanks to better yields in Languedoc-Roussillon, production will still be 2% lower than in 2025 and 14% below the 2021–2025 average. 

The Ministry attributed the decline to a reduction in vineyard acreage and lower yields caused by drought and intense summer heat.

The situation varies considerably across wine regions. In Champagne, the harvest ended in early September, the earliest date on record, and production was cut in half compared to 2025 and the five-year average due to frost, hail, drought, and heat.

 Declines were also recorded in Burgundy-Beaujolais, the Loire, Charentes, Jura, and the southeast, while Bordeaux produced 10% more than during last year's disastrous harvest, although output remains 11% below the average.