This year's wine production in France will increase by 3% compared to the low volume obtained in 2024, but will remain "clearly below" (-13%) the average of the last five years, according to the latest forecasts from the country's Ministry of Agriculture, with data as of September 1. These point to 37.4 million hectoliters, with uneven results depending on the regions: increases in Burgundy, Champagne, and the Loire Valley, and decreases in Alsace and Languedoc. The initial forecasts, made at the beginning of August, announced more than 40 million hectoliters, but the strong heat and drought in August have affected the production potential, already impaired by vineyard removal measures. The Ministry has explained that these unfavorable conditions have been felt most in the production areas of Charentes, Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Languedoc-Roussillon. They have reduced the juice content of the grape and accelerated its ripening, which has resulted in an earlier harvest in many ...