Spain’s wine industry is grappling with its smallest harvest ever recorded, largely due to a series of extreme weather events. The 2023 grape harvest has been severely impacted by droughts, hail storms and heat waves, affecting vineyards across the country. Spain is expected to produce only 34.25 million hectolitres of grapes this year, representing a 16.6% decline compared to 2022.
The situation is particularly dire in hot, dry regions like Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Castile-La Mancha. Catalonia’s Penedès region, known for its Cava production, is experiencing an unprecedented drought, with vines shriveling up due to lack of rain. The region is expected to lose between 35 to 55% of its grapes this year. In early September, Valencia was hit by a severe hail storm that caused about $43 million in crop damage, including vineyards.
However, cooler regions like Galicia and Rioja, which benefit from the Atlantic or the Cantabrian mountains, are showing signs of a good harvest, offering some hope for the future of Spain’s wine industry.
