Paris – An expected 10% decrease from last year French wine production, that should then attest to 42.9 million hectoliters, much lower than the estimated Italian 48.5 million hectoliters according to Ismea. That’s what emerges from an analysis of the French agricultural ministry Agreste, resulting in an Italian win of the world record in production for this year. France could even lose the runner up spot to the benefit of Spain, where first estimates talk about values around 45 million hectoliters. The French production debacle – explains Coldiretti – is due to spring frosts that have hit certain wine-growing areas (Champagne, Burgundy and the Loire Valley), recurrent episodes of wind, a worsening drought towards the Mediterranean and hailstorms in some areas (Charente, Burgundy-Beaujolais, Languedoc-Roussillon) that weighed on the collection. (9colonne)
