Austrian Wine Industry Anticipates Strong 2025 Harvest After Challenging Year

Austrian wine producers are expecting a strong 2025 harvest, with both volume and quality on the rise after a difficult year in 2024. At a press conference held in Vienna on September 9, representatives of Austria’s wine industry shared early assessments of the new vintage. Last year’s harvest was notably low, yielding just 1.87 million hectoliters. This year, production is expected to return to average levels, with current estimates pointing to around 2.5 million hectoliters. The harvest is running one to two weeks later than last year, but growers are optimistic about the results.

Johannes Schmuckenschlager, president of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, said that despite ongoing commercial challenges, the high quality of this year’s grapes and the improved yields are giving winemakers renewed motivation. He noted that the 2025 vintage is likely to produce wines that are fruity and relatively light, which matches current consumer preferences both in Austria and internationally. The weather this year has been favorable for grape development, with smooth budbreak and flowering followed by alternating periods of heat and rain. August brought warm days and cool nights, conditions that often lead to high-quality wines.

White wine producers are especially eager for a rebound after being hit hard by last year’s low yields. White wines account for about 70 percent of Austria’s total wine production. While weather conditions have generally been kind in 2025, growers have faced increased pressure from invasive insect species. The spread of pests such as Drosophila suzukii has become familiar in recent years, but now winemakers are also contending with Scaphoideus titanus, a leafhopper that can damage vines and spread disease. These pests have required new control measures, particularly in southeastern Styria and southern Burgenland.

The rise in invasive insects is linked to climate change, which is altering the environment in Austria’s vineyards and making them more vulnerable to new threats. Despite these challenges, the Austrian wine sector has reached a significant milestone: one quarter of its vineyards are now certified organic. This is a major increase from just 1.7 percent in 2000. Chris Yorke, director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, said that sustainable viticulture—whether organic, biodynamic or otherwise—offers new commercial opportunities. Wines produced under these methods are increasingly sought after by certain consumer groups and on export markets such as Scandinavia and Canada.

To further support the industry’s future, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board plans to launch a major awareness campaign this fall aimed at younger consumers. Yorke explained that while people aged 20 to 35 tend to drink less alcohol overall than previous generations, wine remains their preferred alcoholic beverage. The campaign will focus on strengthening the connection between young adults and Austrian wines.

As harvest continues across Austria’s main wine regions, producers remain hopeful that the combination of good weather, improved yields and growing interest in sustainable practices will help restore momentum to the country’s wine industry after last year’s setbacks.