2026-05-12
Official data from Burgundy-Franche-Comté show that the region’s wine market remained split in March, with white wines still advancing while red wines continued to lose ground and bulk transactions fell sharply.
In its monthly agricultural report published May 11, the regional office of France’s agriculture ministry said that weather conditions were helping vines develop quickly across Burgundy, with temperatures often above seasonal norms. The report said the 2026 growing season was running early, close to 2020, one of the earliest years on record. In some parcels in Yonne, vines had reached four to five unfolded leaves, while in parts of Côte-d’Or and Saône-et-Loire the most advanced plots had reached nine to 12 leaves. Sanitary conditions were described as satisfactory.
The stronger vine growth did not translate into a stronger market for red wine. Over the 12 months through the end of March, sales of Burgundy white wines, excluding Crémant, rose 2.9%, supported by regional appellations. Red wine sales kept falling, especially for Village and Premier Cru wines, which were down 7.5%, according to figures from the Burgundy Wine Board and Demat’vin.
The report also showed that bulk wine transactions between growers and merchants in Burgundy dropped 36% in March from a year earlier, after a weak February. Red wines were hit hardest. Only November 2025 had shown a year-over-year increase during the current campaign. The decline in volume was accompanied by lower prices across several key appellations. Chablis fell 5%, Bourgogne blanc 7%, Mâcon-Villages blanc 3%, Gevrey-Chambertin 6% and Mercurey red 7%. Prices for Village appellations in Côte de Beaune were stable.
The weakness in red wine came as exports remained comparatively firm. Over the 12 months through February, Burgundy wine exports rose 3% in volume but slipped 1.7% in value. White wines continued to drive growth, except for Village and Premier Cru wines from the Mâconnais. In reds, only Grand Cru wines from Côte-d’Or posted gains. The report said demand from Britain, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden helped offset commercial difficulties in the United States.
The broader agricultural picture in the region was mixed. Dry soils were affecting crops planted over winter and spring, though the lack of moisture was also limiting disease pressure. For winter wheat, heading was underway across Burgundy and Haute-Saône. Crops were generally in decent shape but uneven, with signs of water stress and some yield risk if farmers skipped a third nitrogen application. Winter barley was at heading or flowering in early areas.
Spring crops were also under pressure from dryness. Maize acreage was down 11% from 2025 but still slightly above the five-year average; sowing was nearly finished and 57% of maize had emerged. Sunflower acreage was up 12% from last year, while soybean acreage rose 3%. Sugar beet fields ranged from two to eight leaves, but some had to be reseeded after frost and severe flea beetle damage.
On commodity markets, April brought sharp swings tied to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and weather concerns. Wheat delivered to Rouen averaged €188 a metric ton, down €7 from March. Barley for brewing held at about €190 a ton. Rapeseed delivered to Moselle rose to €523 a ton, up €8 on the month, after volatile trading driven by oil prices and demand for biofuels.
The dairy sector showed a different pattern. Milk deliveries in Burgundy-Franche-Comté rose 8% in February from a year earlier, with conventional milk up 10% and AOP Massif du Jura milk up 6.5%. But prices kept falling. Conventional milk in the region averaged €477 per 1,000 liters in February, down more than 4% from a year earlier and back near its level from two years ago, even as production costs remained elevated.
The report said Comté output slowed as producers followed supply controls set by the industry group, while Morbier production jumped more than 40% as some AOP milk shifted there. Mont d’Or production is expected to top 6,000 tons this season for the first time in four years.