The 2025 harvest delivers a positive and, in many ways, encouraging production outlook for Italy. After a 2024 marked by climatic uncertainty and market tensions, the newly completed vintage brings the country back to the five-year average, with output estimated at 47.447 million hectolitres, equal to +8% year-on-year. But the real headline is quality: the grapes harvested stand out for their health, uniform ripening and very high oenological potential.
Harvest 2025: Italy on the Rise, Excellent Quality and a Market Seeking Balance
A mild spring and an early summer favoured a regular vegetative cycle and an overall earlier harvest, especially in the North. The result is a quality profile that promises fresh and long-lived wines in northern regions, balanced wines in central Italy, and structured, deep wines in the South.
Key Features of the Italian Vintage
Production on the rise
Total volume rebounds after two years of decline, realigning with historical standards. With over 47 million hectolitres, Italy confirms its position as the world’s leading wine producer, ahead of France, Spain and the United States.
High quality from North to South
– Northern Italy: excellent ripening, intact grapes, pronounced aromatics. Early fermentations point to particularly clean and well-balanced white wines.
– Central Italy: good day-night temperature variation and limited disease pressure favoured a uniform harvest.
– Southern Italy: structured and highly expressive reds, with sugar levels well balanced by natural acidity.
Stable stocks
Despite higher production, wine stocks as of 30 September 2025 remain essentially stable. This signals an active—yet still fragile—market.
The hot topic: grape prices aren’t covering production costs
The 2025 harvest is generous in terms of quality, but the economic picture shows growing tension. The provincial president of Cia Cuneo, Claudio Conterno, raises an alarm echoed in many other Italian regions: “At this year’s average prices, it’s difficult to maintain vineyards.”
According to Conterno, a fair price for grapes should start at €1.20 per kilo, a figure that now coincides merely with production costs. Nevertheless, the season saw sharp fluctuations: almost no demand in July, followed by a sudden shortage of grapes during harvest.
Conterno also highlights another critical issue: the weight of industry players in price formation. In the Langhe, he notes, 70% of grapes are vinified directly by growers, 20% by cooperatives, and only a small share by industry. Yet the latter continues to significantly influence grape prices, even in territories where production costs—including land—are incomparable.
At the same time, the Cia president comments on wine’s public image: “Wine is often demonised, while other beverages with a much greater health impact are rarely questioned. When consumed in moderation, wine is part of our landscape, our culture and our work.”
The global picture: low production, but a more stable market
While Italy posts a positive season, the rest of the world remains in a delicate balance. According to the OIV report published in November 2025, global production is estimated at 232 million hectolitres—the third lowest ever recorded.
The figure represents only a timid recovery compared to 2024 (+3%), yet remains 7% below the five-year average.
Paradoxically, this is not necessarily bad news. Lower production is helping stabilise the global market, in a context marked by weak demand, high inventories and persistent trade tensions.
Main Producers in 2025
– Italy: 47.3 mln hl, +8%
– France: 35.9 mln hl, –1% (second-lowest harvest since 1957)
– Spain: 29.4 mln hl, –6%
– United States: 21.7 mln hl, +3%
– Australia: 11.6 mln hl, +11%
– Argentina: 10.7 mln hl, –1%
Europe: a mix of recovery and difficulty
Italy leads the continent, while France, Spain, Germany and Portugal continue to face unfavourable climatic conditions. Romania stands out in the opposite direction, growing by 30% and surpassing 4 million hectolitres.
Southern Hemisphere recovery
After three challenging harvests, the Southern Hemisphere shows a 7% increase. Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Brazil all report positive trends thanks to more favourable weather conditions.
A harvest that encourages, a market that demands stability
The 2025 vintage confirms the solidity of Italian viticulture, both in quantity and quality. The challenge now is economic: ensuring profitability for producers, containing market fluctuations and enhancing a production that demonstrates resilience and adaptability year after year.
A country that continues to be a global leader cannot overlook the real value of grapes, vineyard labour and the cultural heritage embodied in every bottle. The 2025 harvest marks a fresh start; the future will depend on the sector’s ability to achieve a more stable and sustainable balance.
