The global wine crisis in figures
The year 2023 has been a period of unprecedented turbulence for the global wine industry, and Europe's three main wine producers, France, Spain and Italy, have not been spared these challenges. Let's delve into the figures to better understand the impact of this crisis on these emblematic wine-producing countries.
Global production, changing consumption patterns and shrinking wine-growing areas
In 2023, global wine production fell dramatically, down 10% on the previous year. This drastic fall is attributed to the climatic hazards that have hit the planet, causing considerable damage to vineyards around the world. Winegrowers were faced with a series of challenges, including droughts, heat waves, fires, early frosts and excessive rainfall.
On the consumption front, the figures are no more encouraging. In 2023, global wine consumption fell by 3%, reaching its lowest level since 1996. This downward trend, which began in 2018, can be explained in part by the impact of inflation on the prices of wine products, reducing the purchasing power of consumers around the world.
The surface area devoted to wine-growing has also fallen for the third year running, reaching 7.2 million hectares in 2023. In France, government-subsidised distillation and grubbing-up programmes have been put in place to deal with overproduction in certain regions, resulting in a 0.4% drop in the area under vines. Further grubbings are likely in the months ahead, particularly in Bordeaux, Languedoc and Côtes du Rhône.
Exports: 6% fall
Wine exports have also been affected by the crisis, falling by 6% in volume terms to their lowest level since 2010. Average export prices have risen to a record €3.62 per litre, deterring some potential buyers.
World production : the European trio continues its race for top spot
Despite the difficulties encountered by many countries, France has managed to stay on course, recording a slight increase in its wine production in 2023. With an increase of 4%, the country has established itself as the world's leading producer, reaching 48 million hectolitres. This performance testifies to the resilience of French winegrowers in the face of climatic hazards and their ability to adapt to changing conditions.
By contrast, Italy has been hard hit by the crisis, recording a dramatic fall in its wine production in 2023. With a drop of 23%, the country saw its production fall to 38 million hectolitres, marking a major blow for one of the world's largest wine producers. This significant drop underlines the challenges facing the Italian wine industry and the need to invest in sustainable solutions to mitigate the effects of climatic hazards.
Spain has also been hard hit by the crisis, recording a significant drop in its wine production in 2023. With a drop of 21%, the country produced 28 million hectolitres, marking a difficult year for one of the world's leading wine producers. This drop in production highlights the challenges facing Spanish winegrowers, and underlines the importance of putting in place adaptive measures to restore their competitiveness.
In conclusion, 2023 has been a period of unprecedented challenges for the global wine industry, with major repercussions for Europe's leading wine producers. While France managed to maintain its leading position thanks to a slight increase in production, Italy and Spain were faced with dramatic falls in their harvests, highlighting the vulnerability of the sector to climatic and economic hazards. These figures underline the urgency of adopting adaptation and sustainability measures to guarantee the future resilience of the European wine industry. In France, 2024 once again demonstrated the impact of climate change, with early budbursts followed by frost and even snow in the Jura and Savoie regions. Proof that no two years are alike.
Sources : OIV – https://www.oiv.int/fr