The OIV is the intergovernmental organisation of a scientific and technical nature of recognised competence for its work concerning vines, wine, wine-based beverages, table grapes, raisins and other vine-based products. It is composed of 51 Member States.

In 2024, world wine production is expected to decline further from the low volume of last year. Climatic challenges across both hemispheres are once again major contributors to the reduced global production volume. Based on comprehensive data from 29 countries representing 85 percent of global production in 2023 global wine production for 2024 is estimated between 224 mhL to 235 mhL, according to the OIV World Wine Production Outlook 2024.

Globally, 2024 appears to be a re-run of 2023 with a range of weather events affecting wine production volumes around the globe, exacerbated by economic and market circumstances. There have been relative changes in production between countries compared to the previous year, but the net result is a total production 2% lower than 2023.

Low production volume in the European Union is expected. French Wine recorded the most significant decrease in production compared to the previous year, largely due to challenging weather conditions across the country. Italian Wine production recovered slightly from 2023’s very low volume, to become the largest world producer once again. Generally volumes across Europe were below average, with only Portugal and Hungary recording average or above average harvest volumes. First forecasts from the USA indicate an average production volume for 2024 slightly below 2023 levels. In the Southern Hemisphere, wine production volumes are expected to remain low in 2024, again due mainly to climatic conditions, marking the lowest output in two decades. This forecast signals a 2% decline from the already low 2023 volume, and a drop of 13% reduction against the ten-year average. This positions 2024 production as potentially the smallest global output since 1961 (220 mhl).

In the Southern Hemisphere, key wine-producing nations experienced significant drops: Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and Brazil recorded production volumes between 4% and 21% below their five-year averages. The European Union presented an equally challenging landscape, with nearly all countries experiencing below-average harvest volumes. France, the leading producer in 2023, experienced the largest fall in production, with its low output substantially influencing the worldwide wine supply. Only a small group of regions, notably the United States and several Eastern European countries including Hungary, Georgia, and Moldova enjoyed more favourable climatic conditions, achieving average or above-average production volumes. 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.

This underscores the wine industry’s increasing vulnerability to climate variability, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive strategies and resilient viticultural practices (see our selection of Organic, Biodynamic, Vegan and Natural Wines) in the face of escalating environmental uncertainties. At the same time, a second consecutive year of reduced production, occurring within a market context of decreasing global consumption and high inventory levels, could contribute to a market equilibrium mitigating the immediate economic impact of reduced production for some regions or producers.

Italy to regain the top Spot from France

In 2024, Italy is estimated to be the largest wine producer in the EU and the world, with an estimated wine production of 41.0 mhl, which is an increase of 2.7 mhl (+7%) from 2023. This reflects a partial recovery from the notably low production in 2023, which saw the smallest production since the historically low harvest in 2017. However, the 2024 volume is still 13% below the five-year average. Adverse weather conditions affected the majority of Italian wine regions, most particularly in the North where a significant part of the vineyard was impacted by hailstorms.

France is expected to produce 36.9 mhl in 2024, marking a significant drop of 10.9 mhl (-23%) from 2023, and 16% below its five-year average, putting France in second place. This is estimated to be the lowest production since the historically low record in 2017 (36.6 mhl). The significant decline in French wine production for 2024 is again attributable to adverse weather conditions across the country from flowering to harvest, impacting all wine regions, with issues like continuous rain, disease outbreaks, poor flowering, droughts and hailstorms reducing yields. This situation is linked to vineyard abandonments in regions such as Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon, and the Rhône Valley and a challenging year for Champagne.

Spain maintains its position as the third-largest wine producer in the EU, with an estimated vinified production volume of 33.6 mhl in 2024. This figure represents an increase of 5.2 mhl (+18%) relative to 2023, though it remains 4% below the last five-year average. The rise, driven by relatively positive harvests in Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, is a partial recovery from the severe droughts of 2023, but ongoing water stress continues to challenge wine production.

Several countries within the EU expect a decrease in production compared to 2023. Germany (8.1 mhl, -6% / 2023) is experiencing declines, with figures falling below their five-year averages by -5%. Germany’s wine production in 2024 faces challenges reminiscent of the low 2017 harvest, with late spring frosts and heavy summer rains severely impacting yields. Portugal has an estimated 2024 wine production volume of 6.9 mhl (-8% / 2023); this level positions Portugal as one of the few EU countries achieving a harvest volume consistent with its five-year average (+0.2%). Austria (2.2 mhl, -9% / 2023) is projected to be 12% and 17% below the five-year average. Hungary with 2.3 mhl expects a decrease of 7% with respect to 2023, 10% below its last five-year average.

In the USA, the fourth-largest wine producer globally, the preliminary estimate for 2024 wine production is 23.6 mhl. This figure is 3% lower compared to 2023 and 1% below its five-year average.

Georgia’s wine production in 2024 is anticipated to reach 2.4 mhl, marking a 27% increase from 2023 and 20% above its five-year average, representing the highest production level since the start of the century. This growth is attributed to favourable weather conditions across all key wine regions.

Southern Hemisphere

In the Southern Hemisphere, where the 2024 wine harvest concludes in the first half of the year, preliminary production estimates reveal a challenging vintage. After a record-high harvest in 2021, wine production has declined for three consecutive years, with the 2024 total estimated at 46 mhl : a 2% decrease from 2023 and 12% below the five-year average, marking the lowest production since 2004. This historically low output stems from significant climatic events across major wine-producing regions. Overall, the Southern Hemisphere’s 2024 wine production represents 20% of the world total, consistent with the past decade’s average.

In South America, Argentina is forecasted to produce 10.9 mhl in 2024, reflecting a significant recovery with a 23% increase from 2023, though still 4% below the five- year average. This increase comes after a challenging 2023 (8.8 mhl), impacted by severe spring frosts and hailstorms, and positions Argentina as the leading producer in the Southern Hemisphere for 2024. Chile is expected to produce 9.3 mhl, showing a significant 15% decrease from 2023 and 21% below the five-year average. This decline is attributed to a late harvest due to an unusually cool spring and to drought conditions in some wine regions. Brazil’s 2024 wine production is estimated at 2.7 mhl, marking a substantial 25% drop from 2023 and 5% below the five-year average, driven by excessive spring rainfall.

In South Africa, wine production for 2024 is projected at 8.8 mhl, marking a 5% decline from 2023 and 13% below the five-year average. The harvest faced multiple challenges, including frost, heavy winter rainfall, floods, and high winds. Notably, the extreme flooding in the Western Cape, estimated as a one-in-200-year event, alongside elevated disease pressure in certain areas, contributed significantly to the overall lower volume.
Australia’s wine production is estimated at 10.2 mhl in 2024, representing a slight 5% increase from 2023 but remaining 16% below the five-year average. The country continues to face challenges from excessive rainfall and inventory pressures.
New Zealand’s wine production is forecasted at 2.8 mhl, a notable 21% decline from 2023 and 13% below the five-year average, primarily attributable to Marlborough’s reduced harvest resulting from frost damage during the critical flowering period.

More information :
https://www.captcaruana.com/challenging-2024-for-champagne-houses-results-in-quality/
https://www.captcaruana.com/mazzei-zisola-is-now-organic-certified/
https://www.oiv.int/sites/default/files/documents/OIV_2024_World_Wine_Production_Outlook_1.pdf
https://www.oiv.int/

To start the year on a bad note, Champagne saw a significant downturn in 2024 with a notable decline of 9.2% in shipments. Factors such as economic uncertainties in major markets like France and the US, along with inflation and political instability, contributed to this trend. So did the popularity of Prosecco, Moscato based Asti Spumante and other sparkling wines (and why not, English sparkling wines). This was following a dramatic increase in sales in 2021 after the Covid pandemic, as mentioned in our post After frosts, Champagne harvest threatened by rain and mildew fungus. Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat Général des vignerons and co-president of the Comité Champagne said, “Champagne is a real barometer of the state of mind of consumers. It is not time to celebrate given inflation, conflicts across the world, economic uncertainties, and political wait-and-see in some of the largest champagne markets, such as France and the United States.”

Weather conditions did not favour. The Champagne region faced an adverse climate. Early spring frosts and a wet summer led to the spread of mildew, damaging the vineyards. The overall vineyard development fell behind by 5-6 days compared to the ten-year average. An exceptionally rainy season further complicated matters, under the influence of El Nino in the Pacific and the cold snap that hovered over France for several months. On average up to twice the average annual rainfall compared to 2023, requiring intensive work to control the mildew. Despite average temperatures above ten-year norms, the cold weather made itself felt on several occasions: Spring frost in April had a major impact on the vineyards of the Côte des Bar and a few plots in the Marne region, as well as widespread stripping due to frost damage in a number of plots (potential bunches of grapes transformed into tendrils). The harvest potential was therefore limited from the outset.

Due to challenging weather conditions and strategic decisions to cut down grape harvest numbers, the 2024 harvest amounted to 271.4 million bottles, down 9.2% from the previous year. The Comité Champagne had set the available yield for 2024 at 10,000 kg/ha on the Champagne Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which was lower compared to 11,400 kg/ha in 2023.

Despite adversity, the 2024 French Champagne harvest produced a vintage with exceptional character. The aromatic concentration and balanced acidity essential for high-quality wines were maintained. Taittinger Champagne says “in many respects, 2024 falls between 2012 and 2016: good acidity levels, a good malic acid/tartaric acid ratio, a gradual but linear increase in sugar levels, etc. which means we need to wait for the aromatic change in the berries and a good level of ripeness, particularly for the Chardonnay grape variety. There is a big difference in ripeness between the black varieties (Pinot meunier and Pinot Noir) and the Chardonnay.” Champagne House Gosset stated “This year, the three grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier) offer a remarkable balance between sugar and acidity, with a high malic acid content, a characteristic indicating potentially high quality for Gosset Champagnes. On the aromatic front, the Pinots ( editor : Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot blanc are allowed) are generous, displaying enticing red fruit notes, while the Chardonnays reveal fruity citrus aromas. All the grape varieties exhibit a beautiful tension on the palate. The House is pleased with this harvest, despite the significant yield disparities observed. Now, the focus turns to the excitement in the winery throughout October, as the first vinifications are underway. However, it’s still too early to know if 2024 will be declared a vintage year.“

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From the very beginning, Mazzei Zisola in the Sicilian province of Noto, right next door to the Maltese Islands, have built a respectful relationship with the land, cultivating all the estate’s produce – vines, oranges, tangerines, lemons and almonds – without any use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers, as tradition demands. The fertilisation of the land is managed through green manure which is the mechanical rotation of wild herbs and the reuse of organic waste for composting.

Azisa, with the 2023 vintage, is the first wine to obtain organic certification, which proudly bears on its label. 2023 should arrive soon. We will update the stock levels online when it does.

Cradled within a magnificent natural landscape that also takes in olives, citrus orchards and almond groves, the Mazzei family continues its intention of enhancing the native vines of Sicily.  Zisola vineyards are all bush-trained using the traditional Sicilian wine vine “alberello” method, with a density of 5,500 vines per hectare. The climate is typical of southern Mediterranean islands, with mild winters and hot, dry summers, alleviated by breezes from the Ionian Sea which, thanks to Zisola’s elevation, bring a cooling influence. The soil is rich in limestone and stony gravel, an ideal combination that favours wines of great complexity, refinement and dense, elegant structure. The pedo-climatic (areas of relatively homogenous soil type and climate conditions) peculiarities of Zisola estate, combined with the “alberello” (bush) training system and the harvest in two steps, guarantee a vertical, fresh, complex and, especially, long-lasting wines.

Classic, Domaine Tariquet’s first white wine, is produced during the 1982 vintage then distributed in 1983. This white wine is made exclusively with the Ugni Blanc grape variety, main variety grown at Domaine Tariquet to produce its Bas-Armagnacs. With this new wine, the Grassa family becomes a true precursor in the production of quality white wines in Gascony.

From its very first vintage, Classic is awarded a Gold Medal with the Jury’s Congratulations in Montpellier (and goes on to win the same award for the following two years), and is then designated ‘Wine of the Year’ in London in 1987.
In the mid-80s, Ugni Blanc is paired with Colombard while remaining the primary grape variety. Since 2011, Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc have also invited themselves into the final blend. Today, Ugni Blanc is still Classic’s iconic and predominant grape variety. Ugni Blanc is indeed chosen for its finesse, delicacy, elegance, lightness, and freshness.

Having since become the estate’s iconic wine, Classic is the embodiment of a pleasurable wine with its crispness, dynamism, and great freshness, with an alcohol content of only 10,5%. It is dry and fruity with a beautiful intensity presenting floral, citrus and yellow fruit aromas. To fully express itself, it should be enjoyed while it is still young.

Like all the wines of the estate, Classic is suitable for vegans.

Domaine Tariquet wines are available for purchase at our 4 Capt.A.Caruana shops, and on our e-commerce shop.