Wine's world

According to estimates as of September 1, French wine production is projected to reach nearly 34 million hectoliters in 2026, representing a 6% decline compared to 2025 and a 17% decline compared to the five-year average (even though that average includes three years of low yields in 2021, 2024, and 2025). This would therefore be one of the lowest production levels in the past 30 years.

The decline in vineyard area (grapevine removals, abandonment of leases, etc.), estimated at -2.5% over the past year, is not sufficient to explain this decrease. Similarly, the start of the season was favorable, with good soil moisture replenishment in the spring, vigorous shoot growth, and low disease pressure.

However, weather conditions in the summer of 2026—marked by near-constant drought and repeated heat waves—severely impacted yields by causing excessive water stress (limiting berry size) and even scorching of the vines (defoliation, wilting of the grapes).

Most vineyards began the harvest as early as August. Yields varied greatly from one region to another, depending on whether the vineyard benefited from late rainfall or was authorized to irrigate:

• In Bordeaux, the rains in late August were a lifesaver. Despite the uprooting of nearly 5,000 ha, production is expected to increase by 10% compared to 2025, while remaining below the five-year average (-11%).
• In Languedoc-Roussillon, production is projected to rise by 5% compared to 2025, but would still be 8% below the five-year average. However, this increase masks significant local disparities, depending on the extent to which farms rely on irrigation.
• In the Southeast, recent rainfall has been beneficial, even though hailstorms in the Vaucluse, Ardèche, and Drôme have exacerbated losses. Production is expected to be on par with that of 2025 (+2%), below the five-year average (-8%).
• In Corsica, the harvest, which began in early August, ultimately saw volumes little affected by the heat wave thanks to effective use of irrigation. Production is expected to be in line with the five-year average, with a slight decline (-4%) compared to 2025.
• In Alsace, drought limited berry size, even though the vines benefited from late rains. The harvest, which began on August 18, will yield a crop smaller than the already low 2025 harvest (-6%).
• In the Loire Valley, the harvest, which began around August 10, will result in a yield lower than that of 2025 (-12%) and the five-year average (-18%).
• In the Jura, the drought resulted in very small grapes, leading to a harvest volume significantly lower than in 2025 (-36%), but only 13% below the five-year average.
• In Champagne, the harvest began as early as August 10. Following adverse weather conditions (frost in the Aisne, hail, and drought since March), the weight of the grape clusters has reached its lowest level in 20 years, and the harvest is expected to be halved (-50%) compared to 2025 and the five-year average.
• In Burgundy, hail, drought, and heat waves have sharply reduced expected yields. Pinot Noir, which has been particularly hard hit, has suffered losses exceeding -50%.

Since May, the early development of the 2026 vintage (already evident due to budbreak three weeks ahead of schedule, followed by rapid flowering) has been accelerating as a result of successive heatwaves.

The anticipated harvest dates (for all Bordeaux appellations, not just the earliest-ripening terroirs) are remarkable and are sure to break many records:

• First week of August: harvest of Crémants de Bordeaux, for which preserving acidity is paramount,
• 15 August: harvest of dry whites,
• last week of August: harvest of Merlot.
• Given that the harvest typically lasts around 20 days, the last Cabernet grapes will likely be picked before mid-September.

With heatwaves compounded by persistent drought, it is the youngest vines and/or those on the most well-drained sandy soils (the southern Haut-Médoc on the outskirts of Bordeaux, the Graves on the edge of the Landes Forest, and Saint-Émilion and Pomerol on the outskirts of Libourne) that will suffer the most.

Conversely, old vines with deep root systems, and terroirs on clay or clay-limestone subsoils, will – barring extreme weather conditions – be able to make the most of these summer heatwaves to produce great wines, as was the case in 2022.

The SoWine agency has just published its 2026 report, packed with information on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in France:

• Type of drink. Wine remains the favourite alcoholic drink for 52% of respondents, ahead of beer (51%), Champagne (34%), cocktails (29%), sparkling wines (22%), cider (20%) and neat spirits (18%)...

• Wine colour. Among wine drinkers, white wine (91%) is the most popular, ahead of Champagne (87%), rosé (85%), red wine (83%), French sparkling wines (79%) and foreign sparkling wines (62%)...

• Wine region. Bordeaux (61%) remains the French people’s favourite region, ahead of Burgundy (58%), Champagne (42%), the Rhône Valley (40%) and Alsace (39%)...