Italy likely to be world's largest wine producer again soon

Italy, or France, or yet again Italy? Which country is the world's biggest wine producer? Italy seems to be overtaking France again this year.
Text: Ingrid Larmoyeur (The Wine Institute) | Image: Unsplash

Since 2007, Italy was No 1 as the world's largest wine-producing country (except in 2011, 2014 and 2023). Last year, the country was suddenly overtaken by France. But France is already in danger of losing that position again this year due to poor weather conditions.

After a disastrous 2023 harvest, Italian production is expected to rise eight per cent this year, reaching between 41 million and 42 million hectolitres. However, weather conditions continue to trouble Italian winemakers. The north has been hit by intense rain and hail in spring and early summer, while large parts of the south and Sicily have experienced drought.

The French agriculture ministry estimated earlier this month that French production will fall 18 per cent to 39.3 million hectolitres. French vineyards have been particularly hard hit by extreme weather conditions this year, including intense rainfall and heat waves. The eastern Jura is suffering the steepest decline. Due to frost and mildew, a production drop of as much as 71 per cent is expected. But also in the Charentes (-35%), Loire (-30%), Bourgogne / Beaujolais (-25% due to heavy hail), for example. Champagne (-19%), Alsace (-13%), Bordeaux (-10% and grubbing programmes), Southeast (-12%, incl Provence), and Languedoc-Roussillon (-4%) yields are expected to decline.

Climate change and extreme weather conditions have been affecting the varying wine production of Italy and France for several years, and thus their position in global wine production. The competition between the two countries also shows the fragility of the wine industry. And it requires vision from wine producers and wine regions to cope with the excesses. These include seeking grape varieties that are more resistant to disease and drought, opting more for more sustainable farming practices and adopting advanced technologies that allow wine producers to monitor and manage conditions in their vineyards.

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