In view of the heat wave this summer, France expects a significant decline in wine production. It is expected to go down by six to 13 percent compared to 2018, said the Department of Agriculture in Paris yesterday, citing estimates.
According to this, only between 42.8 and 46.4 million hectoliters of wine may be produced this year – as little as five years ago. In particular, the heat wave at the end of June was responsible for the expected decline. The vines had flowered under „climatically unfavorable conditions,“ the ministry said.
This affected in particular the western growing areas such as Charente, Bordelais and the Loire Valley. In the southern French regions of Gard, Herault and Var, the heat has led to „burn marks“ on grapes and thus production losses. Unlike the hot temperatures, hailstorms caused only limited damage to French winemakers.
