Vines: the 2024 harvest expected to decline by 23% in France due to the weather

Projections revised downwards again. 2024 wine production in France is expected to decline by 23% year-on-year, due to “unfavorable weather conditions in all regions” of production, according to a new estimate published Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture. In September the ministry's statistics and forecasting services forecast a decline of 18% over one year.

In more detail, the 2024 harvest was estimated on November 1 at 36.9 million hectoliters, a volume close to the historically low levels of 2017 and 2021, years also marked by climatic hazards. This represents a decline of 17% compared to the average of the last five years. Note that all types of wine are affected, particularly in Burgundy, Beaujolais and Champagne, as well as wines intended for eaux-de-vie, down 36% after benefiting from an exceptional harvest in 2023.

All types of wines are concerned

• In Champagneproduction would thus be 46% lower than last year and 31% lower than the five-year average, between lack of sunshine, spring frosts and excess precipitation, according to this source.
• The production of the whole Burgundy-Beaujolais would be 38% lower than the high level of 2023, with mildew which caused losses particularly in Côte-d'Or and excessive precipitation in Beaujolais, including during the harvest.
• In Alsaceproduction would decline by 13% due to difficult flowering and attacks of mildew.
• In Savoyafter frost in spring then mildew in summer, production would drop by 5% over one year (stable over five years). In the Jura, frost and mildew reduce the harvest by 68% compared to the high harvest of 2023.
• In Loire Valleyyields are low for the Muscadet appellation and wine production would drop by 29% over one year, due to mildew and coulure.
• In the Charenteswhere the harvest began early due to bad weather, production is expected to decrease by 37% compared to the record year 2023.
• In the Bordeauxbetween the reduction in vineyard areas, episodes of coulure, millerandage, mildew and hail, the harvest is expected to drop by 12% after an already declining year in 2023.
• In the Southwestthe harvest is expected to be lower than the already reduced 2023 harvest due to coulure, millerandage, mildew, frost and hail.
• In Languedoc-Roussillon, leading French wine-growing region in volume, the harvest would be 9% lower than last year, with in places a recurring drought which has weakened the vines, and elsewhere, mildew, favored by significant rainfall at the start of the year. summer.
• In Corsedrought followed by pest attacks and rot at harvest time would reduce production by 15% compared to 2023, and by 2% compared to the five-year average.
• In the Southeastmillerandage, late frost and mildew mainly affected Provence, and production in the basin contracted by 11% compared to 2023.

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The year 2024 was in fact characterized by precipitation from spring until the harvest and health problems which reduced volumes. In many vineyards, flowering took place in cool and humid conditions, leading to coulure (fall of flowers and young berries) as well as millerandage (formation of berries that are too small), recalls the ministry. Added to this are losses due to frost in spring, mildew and hail in summer.