Kathmandu— The French wine industry is grappling with unprecedented wildfires and extreme heatwaves this summer, threatening the country’s most important agricultural exports. As fires ravaged swaths of Western Europe, particularly in southwestern France near Bordeaux, winemakers are concerned about the impact on grape cultivation and wine quality. The region's vineyards, which span over 739,000 hectares, face multiple challenges including smoke taint from wildfires, drought, and declining sales.

Impact of Wildfires

This year’s wildfire season in southwest Europe has been one of the worst in decades. At least 465,000 hectares have burned since the start of the year, with the Gironde region alone experiencing an area four times larger than Paris being engulfed by flames. The fires forced massive evacuations and affected areas close to Bordeaux, a critical wine-growing region. Although most vineyards were spared direct damage from the fires, smoke taint has become a significant concern as ash and smoke spread over wide areas.

Climate Challenges

Higher temperatures are causing grapes to ripen faster than usual, affecting their natural acidity and increasing alcohol content. Drought conditions have also exacerbated these issues, with critical water sources like the Danube River and Rhine retreating drastically. In eastern France, the Doubs River has nearly vanished in some areas due to drought. Authorities have enforced strict water-use restrictions, impacting grape growers who traditionally rely on rainfall.

Economic Pressures

Winemakers are also facing weaker sales due to shifting consumption habits and declining wine consumption globally. In the United States, France’s largest buyer of wine, consumption dropped from 3.3 billion liters in 2020 to 2.7 billion liters in 2024. Additionally, tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump on French wine have further impacted sales.

While grape growers are starting to adapt their farming practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, declining consumer interest remains a significant concern for the future of France's wine industry.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.