French wine harvest faces 30-year low

French winemakers are bracing for one of the worst harvests in decades, with initial estimates forecasting production to fall significantly due to a summer marked by extreme heat and severe drought. The agriculture ministry released figures on Monday, September 7, 2026, projecting that this year's output will be less than 34 million hectolitres. This figure represents a 6 percent drop from 2025 and is 17 percent below the average production recorded between 2021 and 2025. The ministry's statistics service attributed the decline primarily to the harsh weather conditions. Record-breaking summer temperatures, which saw average temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius in June, July, and August and nearly half the country experiencing highs of 40 degrees Celsius or more, intensified soil drought. These conditions led to localized sun scald, scorching, defoliation, and wilting of grapes, ultimately reducing harvest volumes. While the ministry's estimates suggest a historic low, some winemakers have expressed caution, noting that grape harvests are still underway and definitive figures are not yet available.