French wine production may decrease by almost a third

The damage caused by frosts in French vineyards this month could reduce the country's wine production by almost a third compared to previous years. This was stated this week by the agricultural authority FranceAgriMer, referring to the first estimates of producers. The loss estimate will be revised as the impact of frost on vineyards becomes clearer in the coming weeks. According to preliminary calculations, wine production will be lower by about 15 million hectoliters. This would mean that this year's wine production in France could be 28 to 32 percent below the average in recent years, Ygor Gibelind of FranceAgriMer told reporters. A hectolitre is equivalent to 100 liters, which is approximately 133 standard wine bottles. According to Gibelind, this year's frost was exceptional, both because it affected large areas and also because it also affected the southern regions. He added that the damage was exacerbated by warm weather, which preceded the frost and accelerated the growth of the vineyard. Burgundy is one of the most affected wine regions, with average estimated losses of around 50 percent. They are followed by Languedoc with 40 percent and Aquitaine, which includes Bordeaux, with about 30 percent, added Gibelind. Heavy frosts did not only damage the vineyards. Orchards and sugar beet fields have also suffered great damage. The French government has pledged aid of around € 1 billion to agriculture, including giving wine producers access to a disaster fund to compensate for up to 40 percent of uninsured losses. Wine producers have tentatively estimated potential economic losses due to frost at 1.5-2 billion euros, Gibelind said. This year's wine production in the country is still expected at around 32 million hectoliters, which would be less than in 2017, when bad weather also decimated the vineyards and wine production reached about 36 million hectoliters.