In 2024, the French wine industry endured its most challenging year in decades, marked by a dramatic decline in production, weakening domestic consumption, and mounting uncertainties in international markets. According to a June 6, 2025 report by the French Wine Association (Vinetur), national wine production fell by 23% compared to 2023, totaling just 37 million hectoliters—the lowest output since the 1950s.
The severe drop in production has been attributed to adverse weather conditions that impacted nearly all major wine-producing regions. Persistent spring rains, late-season frosts, and widespread outbreaks of downy mildew caused significant crop losses. Key regions such as Charente, Jura, and the Loire Valley reported losses exceeding 30%, while renowned areas including Champagne and Bordeaux recorded double-digit declines. The French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) estimated a concurrent 21.7% drop in production value.
Despite the production slump, French wine exports demonstrated resilience, with total export volumes inching up by 0.7% to 11.17 million hectoliters. This marginal increase was driven by effective inventory strategies and a rebound in demand from key markets such as the United States. However, the export value declined by 3.0% to €10.9 billion, as softer pricing and evolving consumer preferences impacted revenues. Notably, exports to China contracted by 17% in both volume and value, amid economic slowdown and heightened competition from Australian wines.
Domestically, wine consumption continued its downward trajectory, falling 3.6% to 23 million hectoliters—the lowest level since 1961. Red wines were hit hardest, particularly in the mass retail segment. In contrast, white wines and entry-level French varieties showed greater resilience. The rise in sparkling wine imports, led by Italy’s Prosecco, underscored a growing consumer shift toward more affordable alternatives to Champagne.
Supermarket sales of still wines declined by 4.9% in volume and 3.1% in value from January to November 2024. Champagne suffered the steepest fall among sparkling wines, with sales plunging nearly 13%, while imports of foreign sparkling wines gained ground, highlighting changing preferences in a more price-sensitive market.
Structural consolidation within the industry also continued. France’s total vineyard area contracted by 0.7% to 783,000 hectares, including plans to uproot 8,000 hectares in Bordeaux. The number of wine-growing enterprises declined as well. Data from the Agricultural Society recorded 42,711 farm managers in viticulture in 2023, with the sector facing a pronounced generational transition crisis as many growers approach retirement age.
The developments of 2024 illustrate the growing vulnerability of French viticulture to climate volatility and the evolving dynamics of wine consumption worldwide. While France retains its position as a global wine leader—particularly in premium white wines and regions like Burgundy—the industry faces intensifying pressure to modernize.
To navigate these challenges, producers are increasingly diversifying product portfolios, experimenting with sustainable viticultural practices, and adapting offerings to meet consumer trends favoring lighter, lower-alcohol wines. The pivot toward premium exports and strategic inventory management underscores the sector’s efforts to maintain competitiveness amid a rapidly shifting global landscape.
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