·

2017 EU wine harvest at historic low due to extreme weather

2017-eu-wine-harvest-at-historic-low-due-to-extreme-weather

New estimates show that 2017 EU wine harvest is at historic low due to extreme weather events ranging from frost to drought.

According to figures released by Copa and Cogeca in Brussels on October 10, 2017, the European Union suffered one of the lowest wine harvests this year, reaching an estimated 145 million hl.

"This year, our vineyards have been badly affected by the impact of climate change and extreme weather events ranging from frost to drought, with the harvest estimated to be around 14% down on last year’s levels," Copa and Cogeca Wine Working Party Chairman Thierry Coste said at a press conference held yesterday in Brussels.

This has resulted in a premature harvest across Europe, with many producers carrying out their harvest 2 weeks in advance on average.

France and Italy were particularly badly affected, seeing an historic low to reach 37 M hectolitres in France at most which is around 18% down on last year’s levels. In Italy, it is estimated to reach 40 M hl, which is down 26% compared to 2016.

In Spain, the estimated production is around 36M hl, which is 20% down on last year’s levels.

Portugal was the only country to have experienced a rise of around 10% on last year’s levels.

The prices are expected to rise, but this will not be enough to compensate some producers for their losses.

Featured image: Protecting vineyards from extreme frost – Europe, April 2017. Credit: Marco Kaschuba

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *