Wine merchants: no worries about significantly higher wine prices

Despite the poor harvest expected by winegrowers in some European wine regions this year, consumers do not have to expect drastically higher prices for a bottle of wine. This is according to Peter van Houtert, President of the Royal Association of Dutch Wine Merchants (KVNW). "I am not worried that prices will double."

French and German winegrowers have suffered from the bad weather conditions this year. German winegrowers are expecting the smallest grape harvest since 2017, it was reported this week. In addition, in well-known French wine regions such as Champagne, Burgundy, and Beaujolais, one of the worst harvests in recent years is predicted.

Van Houtert emphasizes that it is still dated to 2023, in which, on the contrary, far too much wine has been produced. Furthermore, wine is now produced all over the world, explains Van Houtert. “The problems we see in Europe don't exist in South America, or exist to a lesser extent.” In addition, a large proportion of the wine comes from South Africa or Chile.

“In the big mix, consumers will have enough choice to buy wine in a certain class,” the chairman concludes.