Worldwide wine production last year fell to its lowest level since 1961, according to figures released this week.
According to The International Organisation of Vine & Wine (OIV), 2024’s total output, which came in at 225.8m hectolitres, was down 4.8% compared to the previous year as well as falling short of the trade association’s earlier prediction of between 227m and 235m hectolitres. The OIV cited “extreme climatic conditions and consequent disease pressure” for the declining figures.
Vinified production in the European Union in 2024 is estimated at 138.3m hectolitres, which marks a decrease of 3.5% compared to 2023. This represents the lowest production volume recorded since the beginning of the century, and behind the historic low in 2017 of 141.5m hectolitres.
Italy, the largest wine-producing nation globally, recorded 44.1m hectolitres last year, a 15% increase from 2023. On a five-year average, however, Italy was down by 6%. The second main producer, France, marked a 23.5% fall from the previous harvest to 36.1m hectolitres – its lowest since 1957.
The Southern Hemisphere registered a historically low output for the second consecutive year; 2024’s production stood at 45.8m hectolitres for the period, down 3.6%, marking its lowest production level in the last 20 years.
“As with 2023, extreme or atypical meteorological events are the key influence on global production, with early frosts, heavy rainfall and prolonged drought dramatically impacting vineyard productivity,” the international association wrote.
World wine consumption also declined in 2024, down 3.3% to 214.2m hectolitres, which also stands at its lowest level since 1961.
“The decline in … consumption has followed a relatively steady trajectory since 2018,” the OIV said. “A combination of several factors contributes to this trend. Notably, the decrease in China’s consumption, averaging a loss of 2m hectolitres annually since 2018, has played a central role in driving down global consumption figures.”
Meanwhile, the global vineyard surface area continued its decline in 2024, contracting by 0.6% to 7.1m hectares. This marks the fourth consecutive year of decline, driven by “vineyard removals across major vine-growing regions in both hemispheres, affecting all grapes for wine and non-wine uses”, the OIV added.
