Champagne Says 2025 Harvest Looks Promising, but Sets Low Yield Limit

It looks like 2025 will be an interesting year for Champagne.

The Comité Champagne, a trade organization that represents the interests of more than 16,000 winegrowers and 350 houses in Champagne, said that the 2025 wine-growing season is “looking quite promising,” but has capped the yield at one of the lowest levels of the century.

As with every year, Champagne winegrowers and houses met at the Comité headquarters in Epernay, France, to agree on the conditions for the upcoming harvest. The vineyards in the region are fairly homogenous and the vines healthy, thanks to mild weather conditions. Still, the group has set the yield limit for this year’s harvest at the lowest level since 2020. (As always, all grapes will be picked by hand as per the appellation’s strict regulations.)

The “available” yield for 2025—the maximum amount that can be made into wine for selling from this harvest—has been set at 9,000 kg/ha. That results in a total production of approximately 255 million bottles from the 34,000-hectare region. It is almost on par with 2020’s historically low levels: At the height of the pandemic, the region capped production at 8,000 kg/ha, representing fewer than 230 million bottles. It is also a stark contrast to 2022 when the yield was capped at 12,000 kilograms per hectare (4,856 pounds per acre), the highest level in 15 years.

The decision to restrict this year’s yields is a direct response to the tumultuous global economy. Geopolitical and economic instability, combined with increasingly volatile consumer behaviour, makes forecasting more challenging, according to the Comité. Champagne shipments remain relatively stable, but the industry is still exercising caution. Capping yields also allows the appellation to maintain quality, exclusivity, and sustainability.

“This decision reflects a clear-headed, united, and responsible Champagne region, capable of acting with restraint in an evolving world while maintaining unwavering confidence in its fundamental strengths,” Maxime Toubart, co-president of the Comité, said in a statement. “It demonstrates a spirit of cohesion in the face of challenges and a constant ability to look ahead with ambition.”

While it’s still unknown whether the 2025 vintage will live up to the Comité’s billing, the fundamental principles of supply-and-demand mean it will likely be highly sought after. Consider this your official warning.