Italy is expected to become the world’s largest wine producer again in 2024 as French vineyards struggle with unfavourable weather conditions, according to figures from each country’s agricultural authorities.
After a disastrous harvest in 2023, Italy’s production will recover by eight percent to 41-42 million hectoliters, Coldiretti, the country’s main agricultural organization, said on Wednesday.
The French Ministry of Agriculture estimated earlier this month that French production will fall 18 percent to 39.3 million hectoliters. Coldiretti noted that this year’s output in Italy is still well below the average of recent years, as several parts of the country are experiencing heavy rains or drought.
According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Italy has been the world’s largest wine producer every year since 2007, except in 2011, 2014 and 2023, when it was beaten by France.
According to Coldiretti, Italy is “divided in two”, with the north experiencing “heavy rainfall and hail in spring and early summer”, while large parts of the south and Sicily are suffering from drought.
Heat and lack of rain led to exceptionally early harvests in some parts of the country.
In France, the biggest decline is expected in the eastern Jura Mountains, where frost and mildew are expected to lead to a 71 percent drop in yields.
In terms of volume, the biggest drop will occur in the western Charente region, where production will fall by 35 percent.
In the Loire Valley, production is expected to fall by 30 percent and in the Burgundy-Beaujolais region, which was hit by heavy hail, by a quarter.
mra/jum/nth/gv/yad
