French wine production set to tumble 18 per cent due to bad weather
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The year's likely total production of 37.2 million hectolitres is an "historic low," worse than 1991, when the country's vineyards were also badly hit by frost, the ministry's scientific service said.
The main reason for the expected cut in production is a severe frost that hit the Bordeaux, Charente, Alsace and Jura regions in spring at a "sensitive stage" in the grapevines' development.
Hail in some areas and a summer drought in southern France also affected production, the ministry said.
A hot spring and summer have led to grapes maturing 10 to 15 days earlier in many areas. The first harvests have already begun in southern vineyards.
France was the world's second-largest wine producer in 2016, after Italy, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. (dpa)
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