PARIS (Reuters) – Wine production in France is expected to fall sharply this year as very wet weather has encouraged the spread of diseases in French vineyards this year, while some regions have been hit by hail and frost, the Agriculture Ministry forecast showed on Friday.
Total wine production is expected to be between 40 million and 43 million hectoliters, below the five-year average of 44.2 million hectoliters and well below the 47.9 million hectoliters produced in 2023, the ministry said.
Mildew, favoured by the humid conditions at the start of summer, has affected most wine-growing areas and could cause significant losses, the ministry said, also reporting that episodes of frost or hail have also locally reduced volumes.
The humidity and cool conditions experienced by French vineyards during flowering have also led to the phenomenon of flower drop and sometimes variation in the size of the berries, the ministry added.
“The well-watered soils could limit this drop in production,” warns the Ministry of Agriculture, which notes however that vegetation is “one to two weeks behind compared to the previous year.”
The press release, which does not provide detailed estimates by region, nevertheless indicates that production in Champagne is expected to fall compared to 2023 following spring frosts and hail.
In the Bordeaux region, a planned reduction in surface area of ​​around 8,000 hectares following a policy of uprooting vines has contributed, in addition to losses linked to natural events, to a reduction in production, the ministry added.
(Written by Sybille de La Hamaide, Augustin Turpin, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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