News

French wine production falls

12 August 2024 By James Evison

France could lose the top spot as the world’s largest wine producer to Italy this year as extreme weather events have once again disrupted grape-growing.

According to forecasts from the French agriculture ministry, output across the country is expected to be around 40 to 43 million hectolitres, which is below the five year average of 44.2 million and considerably below last year’s 47.9 million.

The government said that humid conditions in the early summer growing period created mildew which hit the majority of wine-growing regions, and as a result there could be heavy losses in the areas where it has impacted the most.

In addition, it said that vineyards had experienced a fall in leafs, flowers and young berries, which again was a result of the humid and colder conditions during the flowering period.

But it did also state that wet soil, produced after months of continuous rainfall, could also limit the drop in wine production, with vegetation currently about one to two weeks behind last year’s cycle.

Bordeaux

Although region-specific estimates were not given, the government reported that it expects lower production in Champagne following the frosts and hail in spring.

Also, in Bordeaux, it said that the vine uprooting programme, which as db reported is currently behind schedule, would impact production output, which is broadly expected to be lower than 2023 as a result.

Last year, was also marked by strong mildew pressure, which was “exceptional by the unprecedented scale of the attacks” on the treated plots, especially on Merlot. A helpline was even set up by the local agricultural body in Bordeaux to help “traumatised” winegrowers deal with the devastating impact of a second bout of mildew.

Italy

The news follows Europe’s hottest summer last year in two millennia, which caused agricultural output in Italy to drop significantly, and meant that France took the top spot for production in 2023.

Italian farms recorded a 3.9% yearly drop in production during 2023 with vines, fruits and olives down 11.1% in volume, said a statement issued by the national statistics bureau. Overall wine production in Italy fell by 17% as the soaring temperatures stretched well into autumn 2023. Hail storms also wreaked havoc in many Italian vineyards.

It remains to be seen what Italian production will be, but warnings have already been made by Prosecco producers about the impact of hail storms and other severe weather events.

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