Germany's wine harvest dips as UK expects increase

Germany’s winemakers are facing their smallest harvest since 2010, after a combination of smaller grapes, below-average yields and the impact of heavy rains in September cut volumes drastically.

According to the German Wine Institute (DWI), German producers expect to produce 7.3mn hectolitres of wine must – the term for freshly crushed grape juice that still contains skins, seeds and stems – this year. That is 7% less than 2024 and 16% below the ten-year average of 8.7mn hectolitres.

While volume may be lacking, this year’s harvest still promises to be flavourful. All 13 of Germany’s wine-growing regions report their grapes have been smaller and riper, which should result in especially concentrated and fruity wines, according to DWI spokesperson Ernst Büscher.

The high quality of this year’s harvest might provide some sweet relief to the industry as growing numbers of consumers turn their backs on the bottle.

In 2024, wine consumption in Germany dropped by an estimated 3% to 17.8mn hectolitres, in line with an estimated global decline of 3.3% to 214mn hectolitres during the same period, according to figures collated by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

The trade body puts the projected global slump down to “an intersection of economic and geopolitical factors generating inflation and creating uncertainty, as well as a decline in mature markets shaped by evolving lifestyle preferences, shifting social habits and generational changes in consumer behaviour.”

UK winemakers toast harvest

While Germany and several other wine-producing regions in Europe have experienced a sometimes challenging period, it’s a relatively different story in the UK.

The number of vineyards across the UK rose to more than 1,100 in 2024, a jump of 7.1% compared to 2023, according to industry body WineGB. And, after a dry spring and the warmest summer on record, winemakers are expecting a rise in yields and have expressed optimism that 2025’s vintage will be of exceptional quality.

International trade is becoming increasingly important to the UK wine sector. WineGB’s Industry Report notes that export volumes increased by 35% to make up 9% of all sales in 2024. The hope is that the standard of this year’s harvest will help to increase the appeal of UK wines globally and grow the industry.