With 43,6 million hectoliters of wine still unsold and a 2025 harvest expected to be average, the Italian wine sector risks finding itself with 90 million hectoliters to release onto the market. This is the warning raised by Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union, in an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore , who is calling for urgent measures to contain production: “We are concerned, we have been denouncing the risk of overproduction for over a year,” he declared.
In 2023, downy mildew and in 2024, unusual weather limited yields, preventing oversupply. But the trend toward expansion persists: 6-7 hectares of new vineyards are planted each year, while demand, both domestic and international, declines. Red wines are losing ground in particular, partly due to climate change, which is penalizing their consumption, while white and sparkling wines are holding up—though without significant growth.
Meanwhile, vineyards are being uprooted in France (15 hectares in Bordeaux alone), while production continues in Italy. The first requests for crisis distillation have already arrived, while US tariffs—revived by Trump's election—are adding uncertainty to an already fragile sector. "We need a turning point: lower yields, planting halts, and structural interventions," is the UIV's appeal.
