Global wine production down in 2017 due to severe drought conditions

An international winery organization said Tuesday that global wine production is expected to fall this year -- due largely to severe weather conditions that have hamstrung key regions of the industry.


The Paris-based International Organization of Vine and Vineyards, a 46-nation advocacy group, said drought conditions across Western Europe during the summer are responsible for a decline of more than 8 percent.

The group estimates show that Italian wine production is projected to fall nearly 25 percent by the end of the year.

Production in France will decline almost 20 percent and Spanish production will be 15 percent lower -- and Germany will see a drop of 8 percent from last year's production, the group reported.

Total global wine production is expected to be about 6.25 billion gallons for 2017 -- or nearly 33 million 750 milliliter bottles.

Figures from Portugal, Romania, Hungary and Austria will hold steady, the group said, as will South Africa and Australia.
  [upi.com]
 24/10/17