The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) has released its initial estimate for the current harvest. MAPA expects wine and must production to reach around 38.1m hl, a significant increase of 17.6% compared to last year’s harvest (32.4m hl). However, the 2023 harvest marked a historic low. Compared to the average of the past five years, the 2024 harvest still represents a decline of 4.7%. Until recently, experts had been forecasting a yield of about 40m hl.
The development shows significant regional differences. Castilla-La Mancha, the largest producer, is expected to produce 21.6m hl (+23%), recovering from the severe downturn in 2023. This region accounts for more than half of Spain’s production. Other regions, such as Extremadura (+24.8%) and Valencia (+23.4%), are also seeing substantial increases, though on a smaller scale. The biggest losses are expected in drought-stricken Catalonia, where yields are projected to be 35% lower than last year, with the hardest-hit areas being Priorat and Terra Alta. MS
