The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) has published data on world wine production that raise serious concerns about the future of winemaking. Wine production in 2023 reached its lowest level since 1961, down 7% from the previous year.
Extreme climatic conditions, such as early frosts, heavy rains and drought, have significantly affected the yields of the world's vineyards. As a result, global wine production dropped to 244.1 million hectoliters, raising serious questions about the industry's sustainability.
Among the major producers of grapes, the decrease in yield was noticeable in the Southern Hemisphere, in countries such as Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Brazil. In these regions, the volume of wine production decreased by 10-30%. Experts associate this with the consequences of extreme weather events and climate change.
It is interesting that Italy, traditionally considered one of the world's largest producers of wine, fell to second place, giving way to France. Wine production in Italy fell by 12%, while France remained stable. Spain remained the third largest producer in the world, but its production also fell, by 14% overall and by 19% compared to the five-year average.
According to OIV experts, these changes in wine production may also affect the global market. In the context of declining global consumption and high wine stocks, the expected low level of production may lead to market balancing.
However, scientists also point to the need for further study of the relationship between climate change and extreme weather events affecting winemaking. For example, the inability of cultivated land to retain moisture as effectively as natural soils brought the villains to Italian vineyards.
Inaki García de Cortázar-Atauri, a researcher at the French national agronomic research institute IRAE, noted that although it is not possible to say unequivocally that climate change is entirely responsible for the decline in vineyard yields, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. This includes heat waves, heavy rains and droughts that affect certain regions and have a serious impact on wine production.
Climate change and its impact on vineyards and the wine industry require further study and mitigation measures. It also reminds us of the importance of sustainable agriculture and being mindful of the environment in general.
