Global wine production will fall by 10% in 2023, reaching its lowest level since 1961

At 237 million hectoliters, winemakers worldwide reaped the lowest harvest since 1961, the International Wine Organization announced on Thursday.

A record unmatched since 1961. World wine production In 2023, production fell by 10%, with production reaching 237 million hectoliters during the year, it said the International Wine Organization (OIV) in a press release (PDF document). This decline is the direct result of “extreme environmental conditions”said OIV Director John Barker. The vines suffered from droughts, heat waves, fires, early frosts or rains that led to floods and diseases.

Winemakers around the world produced 237 hectoliters, the lowest harvest in sixty years. The harvest suffered particularly badly in Italy (-23% to 38 million hectoliters) and in Spain (-21% to 28 million hectoliters), while it increased slightly in France (+4% to 48 million hectoliters). This means that France remains by far the world’s leading wine producer. ahead of Italy (38 million) and Spain (28 million).

Consumption is also falling and has reached its lowest level since 1996

Among wine drinkers, consumption fell by 3% last year to 221 million hectoliters per year, the lowest level since 1996. This record is due in particular to inflation, which has increased the production costs and prices of the bottle of wine. Apart from an increase in 2021 due to the lifting of key Covid-related restrictions, the trend has continued to be downwards since 2018. Portuguese, French and Italians are the largest consumers per capita.

The vineyard area for wine or table grape production fell in 2023 for the third time in a row by 0.5% to 7.2 million hectares. It fell 0.4% in France, where the government has subsidized distillation and land-clearing programs to counter overproduction in certain regions. In India, however, the area increased by 3%, making it one of the top 10 largest vineyards in the world.