Global wine production dropped 10% in 2023, climate change blamed for decline

Wine production globally dropped 10 per cent in 2023. Citing the International Organization of Vine and Wine or OIV, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (Apr 25) that this drop was the biggest in more than 60 years. 

The OIV said that the drop happened because of "extreme" climate changes. Extreme environmental conditions including droughts, fires and other problems with climate were mostly to blame for the drastic fall, the OIV added. The global grape harvest was the worst since 1961, and worse even than its early estimates in November.

Australia, Italy among the worst affected

As per the OIV, Australia and Italy suffered the worst, with 26 and 23 per cent drops. Spain lost more than a fifth of its production. Harvests in Chile and South Africa were down by more than 10 per cent.

Also watch | Climate change endangers wine production worldwide

France bucked the falling harvest trend, with a four per cent rise, making it by far the world's biggest wine producer.

Wine consumption lowest since 1996

The OIV further said that wine consumption last year was at its lowest level since 1996. The reasons for this were price increases caused by inflation and a sharp fall in wine drinking in China due to its economic slowdown. The Portuguese, French and Italians remain the world's biggest wine drinkers per capita.

John Barker, OIV's director, said that the underlying decrease in consumption was being driven by demographic and lifestyle changes. "But given the very complicated influences on global demand at the moment. What is clear is that inflation is the dominant factor affecting demand in 2023," Barker said. 

Meanwhile, land given to growing grapes to eat or for wine fell for the third consecutive year to 7.2 million hectares. But India became one of the global top 10 grape producers for the first time with a three per cent rise in the size of its vineyards.

(With inputs from agencies)