This year’s grape harvest in Greece is proving weaker than expected, with low yields reported across most wine regions—especially where irrigation was not possible.
Severe drought, spring frosts, and disease have combined to reduce production, while grape prices are climbing slightly above last year’s already elevated levels.
Mixed Regional Picture
- Aegean Islands & Santorini: Santorini faces its most difficult harvest on record, with yields down 85% compared to average levels and 50% lower than last year, due to drought and strong winds. Prices start at €9–10/kg, rising to €13. Wineries are competing fiercely for grapes, covering harvesting costs themselves in a bid to secure fruit. Rhodes also reports falling production, worsened by vineyard abandonment.
- Peloponnese (Nemea & Corinthia): Nemea’s Agiorgitiko yields average just 500 kg per stremma, dragged down by downy mildew. In Corinthia, table grape and raisin varieties such as Sultanina and Corinthian currant suffered from oidium and neglect, pushing fruit into winemaking at €0.60/kg.
- Central Greece (Boeotia, Attica, Euboea): Spring frosts wiped out 55–60% of vineyards, discouraging growers and fueling vineyard abandonment.
- Thessaly (Tyrnavos): Production is slightly better than last year’s disastrous harvest but remains below the region’s potential, especially for Muscat of Tyrnavos.
- Macedonia & Epirus: Early varieties and Xinomavro show strong yields and quality, with Xinomavro harvest expected mid-September onwards. Epirus also reports healthy production.
- Achaia: Roditis, Muscat, and Mavrodaphne harvests are good, with prices slightly higher than last year.
- Crete (Heraklion): Despite drought and heatwaves, wine grape yields are stronger than last year, though still reduced. Imports are filling gaps left by the decline of Sultanina.
- Limnos & Samos: Both islands report solid quality, with Limnos slightly up in volume and Samos steady compared to last year.
- Ionian Islands: Zakynthos expects recovery after last year’s devastation, while Cephalonia—coming off an excellent 2024—was hit by April frost and July heatwaves, cutting production.
Market Outlook
While grape quality is generally high—except where drought stress was extreme—reduced volumes are expected to lift prices in PDO/PGI regions, as wineries scramble to secure local fruit.
At the same time, demand is softening. Wineries report a 30–40% drop in summer sales, driven by lower consumption in Greece and across Europe. Industry figures blame not only economic pressures but also steep markups in restaurants (up to €16 per liter in carafes, or four times retail bottle prices), alongside stricter penalties and more frequent alcohol checks.
Meanwhile, competition looms from abroad. Spain, Bulgaria, and especially Italy forecast abundant harvests, while U.S. tariffs of 15% on European wines add another layer of uncertainty.
The result: a Greek wine sector squeezed between falling yields, rising production costs, weakening consumption, and external pressures—raising urgent questions about its future sustainability.
Source: https://t.ly/mnsOu