\u201cThe summer was particularly hot and dry: soil drought has intensified throughout the country and heatwaves have caused localised sun scald, scorching, defoliation, and wilting of the grapes, reducing harvest volumes,\u201d it reported.<\/p>\n
A grape picker gets to work at the Trois Terres vineyard in Octon, southern France earlier this month. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo\/EPA<\/p>\n
However, some winemakers say with grape harvests still being conducted it is too early to make credible predictions.<\/p>\n
The disappointing forecast comes after an optimistic start to the year, with heavy spring rains that encouraged grape growth. \u201cThe hot and dry summer conditions meant a deterioration of the [harvest] forecast,\u201d Agreste reported.<\/p>\n
A series of heatwaves brought the highest summer temperatures recorded in France<\/a> since records began in 1900, with averages of 24C in June, July and August. Almost half of the country recorded temperatures on or above 40C.<\/p>\n Among the worst hit wine regions is Champagne where the grape harvest, which started unusually early in mid August, is predicted to be almost half that of last year. The Jura region in the east was the next worst hit with an estimated 37% loss. This year\u2019s Burgundy-Beaujolais region grape production was expected to be one-third down, Agreste reported.<\/p>\n Winemakers in Bordeaux and the Languedoc-Roussillon as well as those in the south-east and south-west reported higher harvests this year but all except the Savoie region were down on the 2021-2025 five-year average for production.<\/p>\n However, C\u00e9cile Mathiaud of the Burgundy wine producers association said she was surprised by the government\u2019s disastrous figures for her region\u2019s vineyards.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know we won\u2019t have a full harvest this year, but we have no definite figures and there\u2019s no suggestion the situation is a disaster,\u201d Mathiaud said. \u201cWe have some vineyards that have reported not much this year and others where it has been higher than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n The harvest under way early in the morning at Trois Terres. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo\/EPA<\/p>\n Some Burgundy vineyards began their harvest in early August but others are collecting the grapes now, she added. \u201cOur reference is the historically low harvest of 2021 when we produced only 1m hectolitres; we think it will be higher this year, but the question is by how much? I have absolutely no idea how the ministry has come up with these figures.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788803175_876_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n