PARIS (Reuters) – World wine production is expected to fall in 2023 to its lowest level in 60 years, due to poor harvests in the southern hemisphere and some major European producers, the International Vine Organization said on Tuesday and wine (OIV).
In its first forecasts, the OIV estimates that global wine production (excluding juices and musts) will be between 241.7 and 246.6 million hectoliters (mhl) in 2023, with an average estimate of 244.1 mhl.
This figure represents a drop in volume of 7% compared to last year and the lowest since 1961, when it fell to 214 million hectoliters, the OIV said in a press release. One hectoliter is equivalent to 133 standard bottles of wine.
“This negative scenario can be attributed to significant declines in the main wine-producing countries in both hemispheres,” explains the OIV.
In the European Union (EU), Italy and Spain will see a significant decline this year compared to 2022 due to unfavorable weather conditions that led to the appearance of late blight and droughts.
France will thus overtake Italy and become the world’s leading producer in 2023, with a volume slightly higher than its five-year average.
“In the southern hemisphere, wine production volumes are expected to be well below 2022 figures,” says the OIV, which specifies that Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Brazil were strongly affected with year-on-year declines of between -10% and -30%.
Only the United States and some EU countries such as Germany, Portugal and Romania experienced favorable weather conditions which should allow for “average or above average volumes”.
The Organization nevertheless specifies that these forecasts must be taken with caution because information from large countries such as China is not yet available.
(Report by Sybille de La Hamaide; French version by Kate Entringer, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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