French Wine Output Near 30-Year Low

France is likely to produce one of its smallest wine harvests in three decades, with Champagne output expected to fall by almost half after severe heat and drought damaged vines and grapes, the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday. Production is forecast at 33.9 million hectoliters this year, 6% below 2025 and 17% below the 2021–2025 average. Conditions were favorable early in the year, but summer drought and heatwaves damaged vines and reduced yields, forcing most producers to begin harvesting unusually early. Champagne output is expected to fall by 49% from last year, while Bourgogne-Beaujolais is forecast to be down by a third and the Loire Valley by 12%. Languedoc-Roussillon production is expected to rise by 5% from last year's weak harvest, although it remains below average, while Bordeaux is forecast to rebound by 10% after late-August rain helped offset drought stress. The area under cultivation has also shrunk by 2.5% as falling consumption and oversupply prompted winemakers to uproot some vineyards. Beyond the weather, the industry was hit by US tariffs last year, while wine consumption is at its lowest level in more than 60 years amid economic pressures, changing tastes and health concerns. French agriculture more broadly has suffered from this summer's record heatwaves and lack of rain, prompting the government to announce an emergency aid package for farmers worth more than €1bn ($1.2bn). (Reuters, max)