Frosts are likely to reduce wine production in France by a third

The damage caused by frosts to French vineyards during April could lead to a drop in wine production in France this year by almost a third. This was stated by the French agricultural agency FranceAgriMer, which referred to the first estimates of wine producers. Losses, the extent of which will be further adjusted in the coming weeks, are tentatively estimated at 15 million hectoliters. If this figure is confirmed, according to Ygor Gibelind of the FranceAgriMer wine division, France should produce 28% to 32% less wine this year than the average in recent years. "These frosts were really extraordinary," Gibelind said. He pointed to the fact that, among others, they had affected a large part of the southern areas, as well as that they were preceded by significant warming, which encouraged the awakening of the vineyard. One of the most affected areas is Burgundy, where production losses are estimated at 50%. The Languedoc region is also in a bad position with estimated losses of 40% and Aquitaine with an estimated loss of 30%, Gibelind added, adding that wine producers estimate the economic damage due to frosts at 1.5 to 2 billion euros. If the estimate is confirmed, this year's wine production in France will also be weaker compared to the weak year 2017, which was also affected by bad weather. In that year, wine production in France reached approximately 36 million hectoliters, this year about 32 million hectoliters are expected.