Europe's wine industry is bracing for a nearly 3% decline in production for 2024, according to a report from farming union Copa-Cogeca.

Data collated by Copa-Cogeca from 24 EU member states suggests an estimated 144 million hectolitres (Mhl) of wine and must has been produced this year, down around 10% on the five-year average.

The union said the report underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Europe's wine industry, “particularly in terms of adverse climatic conditions.”

Among the major wine producers in the EU, Italy is projected to lead production in 2024 with an estimated 41 Mhl. Spain follows closely behind, with an 18% increase in production, totalling 38.1 Mhl.

In contrast, France, which had previously held the top spot, is facing a 22% drop, bringing its output to 37.4 Mhl.

In its report, Copa-Cogeca, which represents farmers in the EU, noted that Germany and Portugal experienced declines of 8.7% and 7.9%, respectively.

Copa-Cogeca wine working party president Luca Rigotti said: “This year's production figures only confirm the market trend.

“The European wine market is navigating a difficult and complex period, with high production costs and international dynamics affecting the market. However, I remain optimistic about the resilience and entrepreneurship of our farmers.”

The report cited various challenges marked in the 2024 season such as “unpredictable weather and the lingering effects of recent droughts”, causing “inconsistent harvests”.

Water scarcity, especially in southern regions, caused early harvests in many areas, the report noted.

On a country-by-country basis, France's lower harvest reflected the difficult climate and the impact of previous droughts on vineyards, the report said.

Last month, France’s government announced a new €120m grub-up scheme it hopes will remove 30,000ha of vineyard across the country’s wine regions. Growers will be paid €4,000/ha ($4,225/ha) to uproot vineyards – and are not permitted to replant until at least 2030.

In August, the European Commission gave the green light to an aid package for winemakers in Spain’s Rioja wine region.

A month earlier, the EU invited representatives of member states to join a wine-policy group to discuss challenges and opportunities for the sector. The group will meet at least three times and is expected to deliver conclusions and recommendations for future policy by the beginning of 2025.