France will produce less than 34 million hectolitres of wine this year, the agriculture ministry announced on Monday, marking the lowest harvest in roughly 70 years.

The world’s second-largest wine producer after Italy expects production to fall 6% from 2025 levels. The ministry’s statistics service attributes the decline to shrinking vineyards and lower yields following drought and summer heatwaves.

Ministry estimates place production at nearly 33.9 million hectolitres as of 1 September, down from 35.9 million hectolitres last year. One hectolitre equals 100 litres.

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine, which tracks global wine production and consumption, already classified the 2025 figure as a historic low. That year marked France’s weakest production since 1957.

This year’s expected harvest sits 17% below the average recorded between 2021 and 2025.

The ministry’s report reveals significant regional variations across France’s wine-producing areas.

Champagne faces the steepest decline, with output expected to drop by half compared to both 2025 and the five-year average. The southern region of Languedoc-Roussillon tells a different story, with the harvest projected to rise 5% from last year’s weak crop thanks to improved yields. However, this still leaves the region 8% below its 2021-2025 average.

France announced emergency support worth more than €1 billion for farmers last week. Agricultural groups responded by saying the package does not meet their needs.

The consecutive years of declining production underscore mounting pressure on France’s wine industry from extreme weather events linked to climate change.

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