After being hurt by frost in 2021, France’s wine production is likely to go up this year, but a worsening drought could cut back on volumes.
The ministry anticipates a 13-21 percent increase in wine production to 42.6 million to 45.6 million hectolitres in 2022.
A hectolitre is 100 liters, or 133 wine bottles.
The forecast is even 7% above the 5-year norm.
Most locations had better weather than the previous year for vine flowering, save the southwest, which saw frost and hail.
A survey claimed that production is rising in all wine regions except Charentes.
Soil dryness and heatwaves could limit its increase until harvesting.
The worst drought in France’s history, which is being made worse by heatwaves, is expected to cause more damage to the country’s largest industry, agriculture.
The ministry said that the warm, dry weather cut down on the number of diseases on the vines and sped up the grape harvest.
It claimed drought affected grapes in Alsace, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Burgundy, it claimed.
Frost and hail damaged 10,000 hectares in Bordeaux, the ministry said.
Champagne is expected to have an excellent harvest, with output above the five-year norm thanks to June rain and low vine disease.
France’s wine production should rise, but drought looms.
