French wine output to be among lowest in 30 years after heatwaves

PARIS – French wine production is expected to be one of the worst in the past 30 years, hit by shrinking vineyards and severe heat and drought that damaged vines and grapes, the farm ministry said on Sept 7.In its first estimate for 2026 production, the world’s second-largest producer after Italy projected 33.9 million hectolitres: 6 per cent below 2025 and 17 per cent down on the 2021 to 2025 average.A hectolitre is the equivalent of 100 litres or 133 standard wine bottles.Although spring conditions had initially supported a better harvest outlook, summer drought and heatwaves damaged vines and reduced yields, the ministry said.“Soil drought intensified across the entire region, and heat waves have caused localised sun scald, scorching, defoliation and wilting of the grapes, reducing harvest volumes,” it said in a statement.This would mark France’s third consecutive weak wine harvest, after low output in 2024 and 2025.France is traditionally the world’s largest exporter by value.The production area fell 2.5 per cent in 2026. Oversupply in the face of falling wine consumption has prompted winemakers to uproot a portion of their vineyards in past years.Champagne output is expected to halve from 2025, while Bourgogne-Beaujolais is forecast to be down by a third and Val de Loire and Charentes by 12 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.Languedoc-Roussillon, France’s largest producing basin, should rise 5 per cent from the 2025 weak harvest thanks to better yields, though output remains below average.Bordeaux is also expected to rebound 10 per cent from 2025 after late-August rain helped offset drought stress, but production remains well below its five-year average.Beyond the wine sector, most French agriculture producers have been badly hit by this summer’s record heatwaves that devastated crops, pastures and water supplies.France on Sept 4 announced an emergency aid package for farmers of more than €1 billion (S$1.47 billion). REUTERS