France is set to produce less wine this year than it ever has on record, after severe spring frost hit vineyards, and rainy weather - over 300 millimetres in two summer months - has caused outbreaks of mildew fungus, ruining the harvests of Champagne and Alsace.
France’s farm ministry warned that the industry looks set to produce 33.3m hectolitres this year, a quarter below the average amount.
Those 732 million gallons will no doubt be pricier too. Is it climate change or just a bad year? Whatever the reason it shows how the weather is intrinsic to agricultural output.
