French 2024 wine production seen falling after wet weather

By Sybille de La Hamaide

PARIS (Reuters) – Wine output in France, the world largest producer, is set to fall sharply this year after very humid weather helped develop diseases across French vineyards this year, and some regions were hit by hail and frosts, the farm ministry said on Friday.

Overall wine output is projected to be between 40 million and 43 million hectolitres, below the five-year average of 44.2 million and well under the 2023 output of 47.9 million, the ministry said in a preliminary estimate.

Wine, along with spirits, is one of France’s biggest export earners. The sector is facing declining domestic consumption, which has hit some production areas such as Bordeaux, contributing to recent protests by farmers.

It is unclear how the fall in output would affect the overall price of wine. Big chateaux usually tend to lift the price of their scarce vintages but France has been suffering from strong competition on world markets.

In Champagne, producers mix several vintages in their bottles but this would not necessarily prevent them from raising prices.

The French farm ministry said mildew, helped by the humid conditions of early summer, hit most wine-growing areas and could cause significant losses.

In addition, many vineyards experienced a fall in flowers, leafs and young berries, a consequence of humid and cool conditions during flowering, it said.

However, wet soils after months of rainfall could limit the drop in production, the ministry said, with vegetation one to two weeks behind last year.

The ministry did not give detailed regional estimates but said that in Champagne, for example, production was expected to be lower than in 2023 after spring frosts and hail impacted potential.

In the Bordeaux region, a cut in area of ​​around 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres), following the uprooting of vines aimed at stopping excessive output, and potential losses due to coulure, mildew and hailstorms are set to lead to a further reduction in output after a drop in 2023.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; editing by Jason Neely and Tomasz Janowski)