Wine production in southern Europe will be significantly lower

After months of unfavorable climatic conditions, key wine producers in southern Europe are expecting significantly worse crops. According to the latest estimates, the three largest producers, Italy, France and Spain, are expected to produce just over 117 million hectoliters of wine in the current 2021/2022 season. This is almost a fifth less than in the 2020/2021 season. This year's grape crops were already affected by the spring months, when large wine-growing areas were hit by frosts. They damaged about 30% of the vineyards in France and northern Italy. Losses subsequently increased hail, drought and disease. As a result, the Copa-Cogeca agri-group expects this year's grape harvest in key countries to be at record lows. On the other hand, the quality of the grapes should be higher. Italy, France and Spain are expected to produce 117.3 million hectoliters of wine this year. This is 18% less than in the 2020/2021 season. In Italy alone, this year's wine production is expected to range from 43.7 million to 45 million hectoliters. This means a decrease in production of about a tenth. The spring frosts, which damaged about 40% of vineyards in northern and central Italy, contributed the most. France expects the most significant decline in wine production, up to 29%. It is estimated that the country will fail to produce more than 33.3 million hectoliters. This volume of wine was last produced by France in 1977. In the case of Spain, wine production is expected at 39.5 million hectoliters. That is 7 million hectoliters less than in the previous year. Production is also expected to decline in Germany and many other countries, Copa-Cogeca said. Growth is expected only in the case of Portugal, but only with a minimal one, by about 1%.