France cuts wine output estimate after soggy weather

Thursday, 10 October, 2024
Reuters, Sybille De La Hamaide
France cut its projection for this year's wine crop on Tuesday following the rainiest September in 25 years.

France cut its projection for this year's wine crop on Tuesday following the rainiest September in 25 years, with 2024 now forecast to be among the worst recent vintages in such prized winemaking regions as Champagne, Burgundy and Beaujolais.

The forecast of 37.5 million hectolitres is now in line with the poor 2021 vintage marked by frost damage. It is 22% below last year's crop and 15% below the five year average, the farm ministry said.

It was revised down from an already weak forecast of 39.3 million released the previous month, which had taken account of poor weather earlier this year. A hectolitre, or 100 litres, is equivalent to 133 standard wine bottles.

"This drop is due to unfavourable weather conditions which impacted all wine-growing areas," the ministry said in a monthly report.

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