French grape harvest revised downward

Agreste, a statistical service of the French Ministry of Agriculture, released an updated estimate for the 2026 grape harvest on October 8, setting production at 34.9 million hectoliters. This is a slight revision from its initial estimate of 34.88 million hectoliters, but still reflects a 2% drop from the weak 2025 harvest and a 14% decline compared to the 2021-2025 average.

Improved yields in Languedoc-Roussillon

The revision was primarily due to better-than-expected yields in Languedoc-Roussillon, which helped offset declines in other regions. A month earlier, Agreste had predicted a lower harvest of 33.9 million hectoliters, showing the significant impact of regional variations in grape production.

Adverse weather and reduced areas affect output

The overall weakness in the harvest is attributed to a 1.9% decrease in production areas year-on-year and the effects of adverse weather, including frost, hail, drought, and heatwaves. These conditions have reduced yields in several regions, although some areas have shown improvements.

Champagne and northern regions face major declines

Champagne experiences the most significant decline, with a 48% reduction in harvest compared to the previous year. This follows a series of challenges, including frost, hail, and drought, which have nearly halved production. Other northern regions like Burgundy and Beaujolais also show substantial declines, with production down 22% year-on-year.

Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux show improvement

Languedoc-Roussillon stands out with a 20% increase in the harvest year-on-year, despite a reduction in production area. Late summer rains helped mitigate the effects of drought and heatwaves. Bordeaux also shows improvement, with a 10% increase in production, though it remains below its five-year average.

Regional variations continue

Other regions show mixed results, with the Southwest increasing production by 12% year-on-year and approaching its five-year average. In contrast, the Southeast declines by 3%, and other regions like the Loire Valley and Charentes also show reductions. Savoie and Corsica see modest increases in their harvests.

Wine categories show divergent trends

The volumes of protected designation of origin (AOP) wines decrease by 7% year-on-year, while other categories like those intended for spirits and other wines also show declines. Only protected geographical indication (IGP) wines increase by 11%, mainly due to improvements in Languedoc-Roussillon.

Harvest volumes differ from marketable production

Agreste distinguishes between harvested volumes and marketable production, which can include reserves from previous harvests. A decrease in harvested volumes does not necessarily mean a proportional decrease in turnover, as this depends on selling prices and available stocks. Wine prices at production have increased by 1% year-on-year in August, with some categories showing higher growth.

Next estimate to be released in November

Agreste plans to release its next estimate of the 2026 grape harvest on November 6, providing further updates on production trends and potential market impacts.