Severe frost wipes out up to 90% of Dutch vineyard harvest in some areas

Dutch vineyards have faced a difficult year due to wind frost and heavy summer rains, leading to a significant drop in wine production compared to the record-breaking 2023 season. In some areas, up to 90 percent of the grape harvest was wiped out by an unusual form of frost in April, severely impacting yields. According to figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the total wine production in 2024 was 5,684 hectoliters, significantly lower than the previous year.

The first bottles of white wine and rosé from Dutch grapes harvested in 2024 are being bottled this month, but production is far lower than before, NU.nl reports. This year, only 750,000 bottles will be produced, nearly one million fewer than in 2023.

The Association of Dutch Wine Producers (VNWP) attributes the poor harvest to an unusual form of night frost in April. "Farmers can usually protect against frost from the ground, but in April, the frost was carried by the wind," a VNWP spokesperson explained. This cold wind severely damaged grapevines, particularly at the height where the grapes were supposed to grow. "It’s an unpredictable type of frost that is difficult to counter."

Following the frost, vineyards endured wet and cold months that hindered pollination, preventing proper grape formation. Heavy rainfall in July further worsened conditions, impacting overall growth. The VNWP noted that cabernet grape varieties used for red wine were particularly affected. "We saw very weak, shriveled leaves," the spokesperson said. "These plants will need a full year to recover before they can produce grapes again."

White grape varieties fared better in the Dutch climate, with white wine accounting for 78 percent of the 2024 yield. Ten percent of Dutch wine production this year is sparkling. Popular white grape varieties grown in the Netherlands include souvignier gris and Johanniter, while Limburg remains home to classic varieties such as Pinot Blanc.