Yesterday, September 10, 2025, in Rome, at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the harvest estimates prepared by Assoenologi, ISMEA, and UIV were presented.
The data show an abundant and high-quality harvest: 47.4 million hectoliters of wine are expected, an increase of 8% compared to 2024. After two smaller harvests, Italy returns to production levels close to the historical average. However, the market outlook is less reassuring: declining domestic consumption, high inventories, and international trade tensions may make it difficult to fully capitalize on this vintage.
Key figures for the 2025 harvest
- Total production: 47.4 million hectoliters.
- Annual change: +8% compared to 43.9 million hectoliters in 2024.
- Historical comparison: volumes are approaching the five-year average (around 48 million hectoliters).
- Quality: healthy grapes, regular maturation, excellent balance of sugars and acidity, with peaks of excellence in many regions.
Leading regions
Regions with growth
- Veneto: nearly 12 million hectoliters, accounting for about 25% of Italian wine.
- Puglia: robust growth, mainly driven by table wines and IGT.
- Emilia-Romagna: maintains high and stable volumes.
- Southern Italy: significant increases in Sicily (+12%), Campania (+10%), and Abruzzo (+9%), thanks to favorable climatic conditions.
Regions in decline
- Tuscany: the most affected region, with a double-digit decrease (-11%) compared to 2024 due to spring rains and hailstorms.
- Central Italy: overall negative trend, with contractions in Umbria and Lazio.
- Northwest: a mixed situation, with moderate increases in Piedmont but localized decreases in Lombardy.
Why the vintage is positive
Three main factors contributed to the success of the 2025 harvest:
- Regular climate: rainy winter, balanced spring, and a summer with good temperature fluctuations.
- Careful agronomic management: effective plant protection, particularly against downy mildew and powdery mildew.
- Targeted harvesting techniques: many growers timed the harvest to maximize phenolic and aromatic ripening.
The result is grapes that promise fresh, balanced, and long-lasting wines, with particularly good prospects for reds suitable for aging.
Market challenges
Despite the good vineyard results, the sector faces complex challenges:
- High inventories: as of July 31, 2025, Italian wineries held about 36 million hectoliters, a level that could pressure prices.
- Domestic consumption: estimated to decline by 2% in 2025, mainly for common wines and mid-low price ranges.
- Exports: value growth (+1.5% in the first half of 2025) but volume decline (-3%), with difficulties in strategic markets such as the USA and Germany.
- International competition: Spain and France, despite lower production, are pursuing aggressive exports, increasing pressure on foreign markets.
Outlook for the wine sector
The conference yesterday highlighted some key recommendations:
- Better manage supply, avoiding overproduction that could depress prices.
- Enhance quality by focusing on DOC and DOCG wines, fundamental tools to differentiate Italian wine.
- Strengthen international promotion, focusing on emerging and high-spending markets.
- Innovate in vineyards and wineries to ensure resilience to climate change and greater competitiveness.
The 2025 harvest is expected to be abundant and of high quality, with 47.4 million hectoliters returning Italy to the top of the global rankings. However, without a targeted strategy to support domestic and international markets, the vintage risks becoming a double-edged sword. The challenge will be turning quantity into value while maintaining the reputation of Italian wine worldwide.
For the official press release with all detailed data, visit the Unione Italiana Vini website.