We have heard a lot of positive things about the 2025 harvest around France during our autumn wine tours. But we have also heard about problems.
People are happy with the quality but not always with the quantity. The volume is lower than ever, 36 million hectolitres for the whole of France is the prognosis. So even a little lower than the very low 2024.
The 2025 harvest was also remarkably early. Many regions were hit by severe heat waves in early August. At such high temperatures, the grapes shrivel and ripening is accelerated. The grapes deliver minimal juice when the time comes. There was some rain in September which in some places helped to increase the size of the grapes slightly. In many instances it can be good to get some rain shortly before the harvest to improve the balance.
In Champagne, people are happy though. 2025 has been a year, says Champagne Penet-Chardonnet in Verzy, with plenty of sunshine and enough rain. Champagne increased its production compared to 2024, as did Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Jura and Savoie.
Bordeaux, Alsace, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and the Southwest fared worse in terms of volume, all of which have lower production than in 2024.
