France's wine harvest is expected to plunge to about 35 million hectolitres this year, marking a historic low after extreme summer heatwaves battered the country.
The figure represents a 2% drop from 2025, when production already hit its lowest level in nearly 70 years, according to estimates released Wednesday by France's ministry of agriculture. The current harvest sits 14% below the average for the past five years.
The steep decline underscores the vulnerability of France's iconic wine regions to climate extremes. Summer heatwaves damaged vines across the country, reducing both the quantity and quality of grapes available for production.