The estimated mean of 259.9 mill. hl is about 1% lower than the previous year's volume. If the results are confirmed, this would be the fourth consecutive year where the global production level would be slightly below average. However, the OIV points out that the estimates are not yet precise, as no information is yet available from the major wine-producing countries China and Russia.
Europe
In the EU, the production volume is expected to be average. While Italy, France, Romania and Germany, among others, report higher harvest volumes than in the previous year, Spain, Greece and Portugal have harvested rather low volumes. The biggest drop in percentage terms compared to 2021 was recorded by Greece (-29%), which reported the lowest harvest volume in the past five years.
Outside the EU, the OIV sees a new record volume of 2.1 mill. hl in Georgia. Switzerland also increased its yield to about 1 mill. hl, up 59% from last year's low volume.
The harvest volumes are certainly an example of how some countries suffered from the drought during the summer heatwave. Countries such as Germany and Switzerland, on the other hand, tended to benefit - here, for example, pressure for fungal diseases was significantly lower than in the previous year.
USA
In the USA, a slightly lower harvest volume than in 2021 is forecast, with 23.1 mill. hl expected there. This would be 4% below the previous year and 6% below the five-year average. The combination of frost damage and summer drought is likely to be responsible for this. In the last five years, the volume was only lower in 2020 when it was 22.8 mill. hl.
Southern Hemisphere
After a record year in 2021, the wine-growing countries in the Southern Hemisphere produced rather average volumes overall in 2022, despite all countries producing less than in the previous year. The only exception was New Zealand: after a poor harvest last year, this year saw the largest production volume ever (3.8 mill. hl, 44% above last year).
Overall, the southern hemisphere is responsible for about 21% of world wine production in 2022. (VM)
