The European wine sector is projecting a total wine and must production of 144m hl for 2024, according to a press release from agricultural organizations Copa and Cogeca. This represents a decline of nearly 3% compared to the previous year and is 10% below the five-year average.
Italy leads production with 41m hl (+7% vs. 2023), followed by Spain with 38.1m hl (+18% vs. 2023). France ranks third, producing 37.4m hl, a sharp decrease of 22% compared to 2023. Germany (–9%) and Portugal (–8%) also experienced significant declines.
Despite production increases in Italy and Spain, all major producers remain below their respective five-year averages.
Challenging weather patterns
According to the press release from Copa and Cogeca, the 2024 harvest was defined by unpredictable weather, leading to highly variable yields across different regions. France, last year’s largest wine producer, suffered severe losses due to adverse climatic conditions, including frost, mildew, and hailstorms.
Germany also faced significant challenges, with frost, heavy rains, and disease pressure impacting vineyards. Regions like Saxony and Saale-Unstrut were hit particularly hard, with production declines reaching up to 80%. Despite these setbacks, Christian Schwörer, Secretary General of the German Winegrowers’ Association and Vice President of the Copa-Cogeca Wine Working Group, expressed optimism about the quality of the harvest: “We believe that German white wines this year have strong potential to align with current consumer preferences.”
Regional winners
Italy experienced contrasting conditions across its regions. The north contended with hailstorms and heavy spring rains, increasing vineyard labor, while the south faced severe drought. Regional breakdowns project a modest increase of 0.6% in the north, a notable 29.1% rise in central regions, and a 15.6% increase in the south and islands compared to last year.
Spain, despite a prolonged drought, recorded an overall production increase. This growth was primarily driven by the strong performance of vineyards in Castilla-La Mancha, which accounts for more than half of Spain’s wine production and achieved a 23% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, regions like Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon, and Murcia saw continued declines due to water shortages, following last year’s trend.
Challenging starting point
Beyond the extreme weather events, inflation and rising supply chain costs have significantly increased production expenses, making it harder for producers to secure credit and delaying necessary investments, according to the Copa-Cogeca report.
Luca Rigotti, Chair of Copa-Cogeca’s Wine Working Group, remarked: “This year’s production figures simply reflect the prevailing market trends. The European wine market is navigating a challenging and complex phase, marked by high production costs and shifting international dynamics. However, I remain optimistic about the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of our farmers.”
About Copa-Cogeca
Based in Brussels, Copa-Cogeca represents the collective voice of European agriculture. Copa advocates for over 22m European farmers, while Cogeca focuses on the interests of agricultural cooperatives, as well as the forestry and fisheries sectors. Together, they form one of the most influential agricultural lobbying organizations in the EU.
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