EU wine harvests set for 36-year low

By Laura Mullan
Extreme weather conditions including heavy hailstorms, harsh frosts and droughts, have damaged vineyards across Europe, resulting in what is expected to...

Extreme weather conditions including heavy hailstorms, harsh frosts and droughts, have damaged vineyards across Europe, resulting in what is expected to be the EU’s poorest wine grape harvest in over 36 years, the EU representatives have revealed.

As a result of the adverse climatic conditions, the EU department for Agriculture and Rural Development said that “most of the wine growing regions Europe are expecting a very low harvest in 2017.”  

RELATED STORIES:

The European Commission predicts that volumes of pressed juice, or must, in Spain would be 16% lower than in 2016 and in France and Italy, winemakers are expecting a 17% and 21%  reduction respectively.

Regions such as Castilla-la-Mancha in Spain and Sicily have been hit hard particularly, predicting a fall of 19% and 35% respectively.

On the other hand, some regions have reported an increase in volume this year such as some regions of Portugal, Austria and Romania expecting an increase from last year.

Wine must, or young wine production, across the 28 members of the EU is seen at 145 hectolitres, down 14% from the 2015/ 2016. If this prediction is correct it would be the lowest level of production since 1981 / 1982.

The European Union is a leading producer of wine. It accounts for 45% of wine-growing areas, 65% of production, 57% of global consumption and 70% of exports in global terms.

If predictions are ahe blow dealt to this year’s wine harvest is a major setback for an industry enjoying huge success.

However, the report stresses that “these initial estimates of harvest size could change as the situation becomes clearer following the actual harvest”.

 

Share

Featured Articles

Top 10 customer experience (CX) trends in 2023

Food Digital breaks down the Top 10 customer experience (CX) trends taking centre stage for 2023, including predictive analytics, AR, metaverse and more

Absolut joins the sustainable drink trend with paper bottle

Sustainability is driving brand changes at Absolut as the drinks brand focuses on delivering new designs and a sustainable paper-based recyclable packaging

Careers Passport: flagship programme to help jobseekers

A fast-track job scheme designed to remove barriers to enter the food and drink industry has seen over 1,000 training opportunities created.

Coca-Cola, Diginex & Reckitt tech to support supply chains

Drink

Luxury food manufacturer Venchi on sustainable packaging

Food

How has the pandemic affected sales at General Mills?

Food