Forbes December 27, 2025
In 2023, Tuscany lost 70% of its wine production due to downy mildew on vines. Downy mildew takes root on the leaves, attacking the bunches and causing grapes to wither. As a result, the world’s wine production in 2023 shrank by 10% from 2022 due to downy mildew. It was the lowest since 1961. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) says extreme weather impacted all major growing regions, including drought, flooding, wildfires, and fungal disease.
In 2025, Italy remains the world’s largest wine producer, producing 47.3 million hectoliters (Mhl), ahead of France at 35.9 Mhl and Spain at 29.4 Mhl. The US comes in fourth, and Australia comes in fifth.
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