Wine, harvest rebound driven by the South (after two years of declining production)

A harvest forecast at 47.4 million hectolitres, with healthy grapes promising a very good year in almost all of the country with peaks of excellence. This is the finding of the 2025 wine production estimates, carried out by Assoenologi, Ismea and the Italian Wine Union together with the relevant offices of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Regions.

The estimate, presented yesterday morning at the Ministry of Agriculture in Rome, predicts that Italian wine production will increase by 8% compared to last year, bringing volumes back in line with the average of recent years after two particularly poor years (+2% on average 2024-2025). A harvest that therefore confirms the world production record of Italy, followed in the ranking by its European competitors France (37.4 million hectolitres) and Spain (36.8 million hectolitres).

Despite the rains of recent weeks, the grapes are in good condition in terms of health thanks to careful agronomic management. "The good water reserves accumulated during the winter," explained Assoenologi, "a mild spring and an early but fluctuating summer have favoured an early harvest in many areas and with a time distribution that promises to be long, especially in southern Italy. The phenolic maturity achieved in most areas, combined with the aromatic potential favoured by the temperature fluctuations at the end of August, suggests fresh and long-lived wines in the North, clean and balanced profiles in the Centre, and reds with structure and character in the South".

Geographically speaking, the grape harvest," Ismea reported, "was driven by Southern Italy (+18.5%), while it recovered in the Northern regions (+3.3%) and fell in the Central regions (-3.1%). Among the regions in first place was Veneto (11.9 million hectolitres, +2%), followed by Puglia (9 million, +17%), and Emilia Romagna (7.1 million, stable). Significant growth performances were recorded by Abruzzo and Molise (both +25%), Marche (+18%), Campania (+13%), Sicily (+20%) Calabria (+15%) and Basilicata (+40%). Vocation regions such as Piedmont (+5%) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (+10%) also did very well. The overview of regions continues with Lombardy (+15%), Trentino Alto Adige (+9%), Valle d'Aosta (+8%), Umbria (+10%) and Lazio (+5%). Liguria and Sardinia were stable compared to last year. The only negative exception in terms of volumes produced is Tuscany (2.3 million hectolitres are expected -15%).

"We must look first of all at the past but also at the present with optimism," commented the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida. "We should be proud of what the Italian wine sector has achieved so far with a series of records in exports. Even the forecasts on the foreign markets front are not negative in my opinion. Of course, we will analyse the situation carefully and if necessary we will intervene with effective measures'.