According the French agricultural ministry, French wine production may drop by 17 percent this year.
Agreste, the department of the French agricultural ministry, estimates wine production in France at 37 million to 38.2 million of hectolitres.
The median value, at 37.6 million hectolitres, could be 17 percent below last year’s output and 16 percent below average. This is a “historically low” year and less than the output in 1991, a year strongly affected by spring frosts.
“This fall in production is primarily due to the severe frosts in the spring, which affected, at a sensitive stage, the vine’s growth in all regions”, declared Agreste.
This year’s production in Champagne was expected to increase in a proportion of up to 8 percent but remained 9 percent below the 2012-2016 average.
The Bourgogne and Beaujolais region, which suffered major damage in 2016, increased to 14 percent.
Loire Valley, moderately affected by frosts, was safe from crytogamic diseases. Production could be 7 percent higher than last year.
In Bordeaux, production will be strongly impacted by frosts. The volume was down to 18 percent.
In Languedoc-Roussillon, some frosts impacted both the Aude and the Hérault department. This basin could see a 6% decrease.