According to the annual report of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), analysed by Wines of Romania, global wine production registered a 3% increase in 2025 – a modest recovery following the extremely poor harvest of 2024. The total estimated volume for 2025 is 232 million hectolitres, 5% below the average of the last five years. Romania is among the few countries recording significant growth after an extremely dry 2024 marked by severe weather events.
The first figures for the European Union indicate a 2% increase in production, reaching 14 million hectolitres, still 8% below the five-year average. France faces yet another difficult year, with production 1% lower than last year, when it recorded its lowest output since 1957. In contrast, Italy saw an 8% increase, reaching 47.4 million hectolitres, 2% above the five-year average. Despite slight signs of recovery in 2024, Spain’s production remains low – 29.4 million hectolitres, 6% less than the previous year, marking the third consecutive year well below the 35–40 million hectolitre level of 2020–2022.
For Romania, estimates for the 2025 wine production indicate a total of 4.1 million hectolitres, up 29% from 2024, when 3.1 million hectolitres were produced, and 3% above the five-year average. Although the spring season was marked by late frost, hail episodes, and a dry summer in certain regions, Romania benefited from an excellent autumn, with temperature differences of over 10°C between day and night and rainfall before harvest – conditions that contributed to high-quality grapes in most of the country.
Across Europe, higher percentage increases are found only in countries with very small production and strong annual variations: Slovenia (+64%, 0.8 million hl) and Cyprus (+31%, approx. 0.1 million hl). Austria (+17%) and Croatia (+21%) also exceed the five-year average by 6% and 4%, respectively.
Globally, OIV experts believe that lower production compared to previous years should not be seen as a concern but rather as an opportunity to rebalance stocks: “The limited increase in production in 2025 is expected to contribute to stock stabilisation, in a context of declining consumption in mature markets and growing uncertainty in global trade conditions.”
An Opportunity for Local Producers to Strengthen Their Presence on International Markets
“In a context where climate change is increasingly affecting traditional wine-producing countries, and vineyard surface reductions continue – especially in France – it is becoming clearer that a window of opportunity is opening, one that Romania could take advantage of. When analysing Romania’s wine exports between 2014 and 2024, we find that although their value has almost doubled, from 22 to 42 million dollars, the volumes remain generally constant, between 16 and 20 million litres. On one hand, this is due to inflation; on the other, it reflects the fact that we have begun – timidly, but we have begun – to export premium wines as well, wines that appeal to connoisseurs and wine lovers and that offer an excellent price-quality ratio. Beyond accessible, everyday wine, Romania must demonstrate that in the 10–25 euro category it can offer distinctive quality, recognised both by renowned wine critics and by the awards obtained at international competitions. Still, this can only happen through consensus and a shared effort across the industry – a message I am pleased to see echoed by more and more Romanian wine producers,”
said Marinela Ardelean, founder of Wines of Romania.
In the context of global wine production still below the average of recent years, the evolution of Romanian wine in 2025 reflects not only a recovery after a difficult agricultural year but also a real potential for strengthening its position on international markets. The steadily rising quality of Romanian wines, the growing interest in local grape varieties, and the strong results achieved by Romanian producers internationally are creating the foundations for a stronger global positioning of Romania in the wine industry in the coming years.
About Wines of Romania
Wines of Romania
Wines of Romania is a 100% private project, strongly anchored in the sustainable development of the local and international success of Romanian wine. Founded by Marinela Ardelean, wine expert and co-organiser of the RO-WINE festival, the Wines of Romania platform represents a digital universe dedicated to local wines, wine lovers, buyers, producers and investors.
