After a year of difficult weather conditions in southern Europe, the 2021/2022 wine harvest is expected to be significantly lower than in the previous marketing year, according to data provided on Monday 20 September by the EU’s agricultural cooperatives and organisations (Copa-Cogeca).
Wine production in the three main producing countries—Italy, France, and Spain—is expected to be around 117.3 million hectolitres (hl), a drop of 18% compared to 2020/2021, according to Copa-Cogeca.
In addition to spring frosts, which decimated about 30% of the crop in France and northern Italy, hail, drought, and disease exacerbated losses. However, the good behaviour of the grapes suggests quality wines, according to Copa-Cogeca.
In Italy, wine production could fluctuate between 43.7 million and 45 million hl, registering a drop of 9%.
France expects the biggest drop (-29% compared to 2020/2021, to 33.3 million hl).
Spain is expecting a harvest of 39.5 million hl, 7 million hl less than in the 2020/2021 season. Link to the press release: https://bit.ly/2W1eg2I (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)