France’s agriculture ministry has cut its forecast for wine production this year to 36 million hectoliters, down from the 37,4 million expected last month and 1 percent less than last year’s harvest. The drop is due to heat waves in August, it said. BTA. One hectoliter is equal to 100 liters, or 133 standard bottles of wine.
According to the ministry, the revised forecast, based on the latest harvest data, is 16 percent below the average for the last five years.
“The harvest, which is almost complete, confirms the negative impact of the August heat wave on production potential in most regions,” the ministry said.
Hot, dry weather accelerated grape ripening and limited growth, while rains in late September failed to offset the negative impact. France is the world’s second-largest wine producer after Italy and the leading exporter by value. Production has been hit by adverse weather conditions in the past two years, and policies to manage surpluses have led to the uprooting of some vineyards.
Champagne production is expected to rise 14 percent year-on-year to 2,1 million hectoliters, though it remains 10 percent below the five-year average. Producers are reporting a quality harvest. Meanwhile, the Charente region, key for cognac production, is expected to fall 2 percent from last year, 23 percent below average. The two main wine regions – Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon – are also forecast to see production fall by 2 and 9 percent, respectively, remaining below the five-year average.
Burgundy is doing better, but in the neighboring Beaujolais region, grape yields are at their lowest in at least 35 years due to adverse weather conditions and fungal diseases on the vines. The Loire Valley is expected to increase production by 15 percent to 2,4 million hectoliters, while Alsace is forecast to fall by 9 percent year-on-year, 17 percent below average.
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