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Champagne production halves as scorching summer dents French wine grape harvest
politico.eu • • business
Key Points:
- France’s wine production is projected to drop below 3.4 billion liters in 2023 due to severe drought and heat waves, with the Champagne region experiencing the most significant impact and a potential halving of output.
- The early and accelerated grape harvest began in August, driven by high temperatures causing soil drought, sunscald, defoliation, and grape shriveling across vineyards nationwide.
- While southern France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region may see a 5% production rebound from last year's weak harvest, overall output remains 8% below the five-year average.
- If confirmed, this year's crop would be France's smallest since 1957, marking nearly seven decades of decline linked to extreme weather conditions.
- The summer’s harsh climate has broadly affected European agriculture, with significant maize and fruit losses reported in multiple countries, and France’s economic damage estimated between €10 billion and €15 billion, prompting over €1 billion in emergency farm aid.
