Dutch winegrowers await decisive harvest weeks
Many vineyards benefited from sunshine and dry weather, but rain and extreme conditions could still affect quality.
After a sunny summer, Dutch winegrowers are cautiously optimistic about the harvest. The grapes are nearly ripe in many places, but the final weeks before picking remain decisive for yield and quality.
The Vereniging Nederlandse Wijn Producenten reported in August that conditions for grape growing had been favourable. Rain at the start of the season provided moisture in the soil, after which a sunny and dry summer stimulated ripening.
That picture is not the same everywhere. Differences in soil, grape variety and local rainfall mean that vineyards respond differently to the same weather. The timing of the harvest also varies. Some businesses have already started picking, while other plots are still waiting for the grapes to ripen sufficiently.
The sector is therefore continuing to avoid the term ‘exceptional vintage’. A large harvest can only be established once the grapes have actually been collected and processed. Rainfall in the run-up to picking can affect quality, particularly if it damages the grapes or gives mould more opportunity to develop.
The provisional expectations build on a strong 2025. According to figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the wine producers’ association, Dutch winegrowers produced almost 1.2 million litres of wine at the time, equivalent to more than 1.5 million bottles. That was approximately twice as much as in 2024.
The growth of Dutch winegrowing is partly linked to a warmer climate. Varieties that previously struggled to ripen in the Netherlands can now more often build up sufficient sugar. At the same time, a warmer climate also increases risks, such as drought, sunburn on grapes, heat during flowering and extreme rainfall.
KNMI measurements show that September up to and including 24 September averaged 16.9 degrees in De Bilt, compared with a normal average of 14.7 degrees. The total rainfall stood at 52.3 millimetres, compared with 77.9 millimetres as the long-term average. These are measurements for one monitoring location and do not directly indicate how much rain each vineyard received.
The coming harvest weeks therefore do not represent a straightforward climate gain. Dutch winegrowing may benefit from warmth, but is also becoming more dependent on precise timing, water management and protection against weather extremes. The definitive assessment of 2026 will only follow after the grapes have been harvested and processed.
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The text uses sector information for the harvest outlook and KNMI measurements for the weather picture. The causal formulations about climate have been kept cautious and are not presented as the sole evidence for the harvest.
- confirmed Dutch winegrowers had favourable conditions in 2026 due to rain in spring and sunshine and dry weather in summer. — Reported by Nieuwe Oogst on the basis of the VNWP. source
- confirmed Dutch wine production amounted to almost 1.2 million litres and more than 1.5 million bottles in 2025. — Published as an estimate by RVO and VNWP. source
- confirmed September 2026 averaged 16.9 degrees in De Bilt up to and including 24 September. — KNMI gives this provisional monthly figure. source
- confirmed An exceptional harvest for 2026 has not yet been established. — The sector still considers the final yield uncertain. source
Editor's note
The favourable weather conditions and provisional harvest outlook have been confirmed. An exceptional harvest has not yet been established; KNMI figures apply to De Bilt and not to every vineyard.Sources
- Nederlandse wijnboeren stevenen af op topoogst — Nieuwe Oogst
- Terwijl Frankrijk klaagt, oogst Nederlandse wijnbouwer met een glimlach — Nieuwe Oogst
- Maandextremen september — KNMI
- Wijnbouwsector produceerde meer dan 1,5 miljoen flessen in 2025 — Nederlandse Wijngids
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „wijnbouw oogst”
- FD — „wijnbouw oogst”
- AD — „wijnbouw oogst”