European viticulture enters the new season with cautious optimism. Wine production in 2025 is estimated at around 145.5 million hectolitres, only one percent more than last year. Still, this improvement remains significantly below the five-year average, and Europe is far from the levels achieved before the series of climate shocks and market disruptions.
Although production numbers are slowly rising, the gap compared to 2018 still exceeds 40 million hectolitres, showing that the wine sector has not yet recovered from several consecutive challenging seasons.
Italy remains the largest producer with nearly 47 million hectolitres, followed by France with around 37 million, although still below its usual average. Spain, with about 31.5 million hectolitres, continues to struggle with drought, heatwaves and vine diseases, which have further reduced its volumes.
Extreme weather events have deeply affected vineyards across Europe. Drought, floods and heatwaves left visible consequences, while wildfires in southern France destroyed more than a thousand hectares of vineyards. Uneven rainfall patterns further complicate planning, as some regions face water shortages while others cope with excess moisture.
In addition to climate adversity, market pressures remain strong. Changing consumer habits, inflation and weaker domestic demand are reducing sales across the EU. At the same time, U.S. tariffs on European wine continue to generate uncertainty in exports, putting pressure on prices and producers’ margins.
Despite all these challenges, Europe still sees positive examples. Italy has benefited from stable winter conditions and sufficient soil moisture, enabling growth across most regions. Southern areas such as Basilicata, Abruzzo and Molise recorded notable increases, while Veneto remains the country’s most productive region.
Germany and Portugal, however, registered production declines, illustrating how uneven weather and market conditions are across the continent. Meanwhile, Sweden — though producing only around 2,000 hectolitres — continues to emerge slowly on Europe’s wine map, using climate change as an opportunity rather than a threat.
European wine producers enter 2025 facing perhaps the most complex moment in modern wine history. The sector demands innovation, investment and clear policies to stabilise production and preserve Europe’s global reputation for wine excellence.
