The French grape harvest is predicted to exceed 47 million hectolitres (hl) this year – an increase of 6% compared to 2010.
According to figures published by the French ministry of agriculture and fishing, the nation’s vineyards will bear 47.9m hl of fruit, an increase on last year’s small crop.
The estimate includes 23m hl of geographically-delimited appellation wines (AOP), and 13.6m hl of wines classified as IGP, the category of wines formerly known as vin de pays.
However, the ministry admitted there was still time for the crop size to be reduced, due to poor weather in the run up to the harvest and disease outbreaks.
Its report warned, ‘Fungal attacks, are under control for the moment but could be affected in the coming weeks if the humid weather continues. ‘
Despite grubbing up measures in the Languedoc-Roussillon leading to a 4% reduction in the region’s vineyard area, the potential crop is expected to increase by more than 1m hl to 13.1m hl.
Written by Rebecca Gibb
