Weather causes ‘lowest’ European wine output since WWII

Image credit: winesandvines.com

Whatever happens with local or regional weather – hot, cold, wet, dry – if it’s anything out of the ordinary, it must be ‘extreme’ and due to ‘climate change’. At least that’s the implication of reports like this one from Phys.org.

Europe’s wine production has dropped to levels unseen since World War II as extreme weather battered top producers Italy, France, Spain and Germany, the main farmers’ union said Tuesday.

The Copa-Cogeca union said quality was high and prices will rise but not enough to compensate producers for losses as drought and frosts linked to climate change damaged grapes.

“This is the lowest (European) harvest that we have seen since World War II,” Copa-Cogeca executive Thierry Coste told reporters.

Total wine production across the European Union is an estimated 145 million hectolitres for 2017, down about 14 percent from last year’s levels, the union said.

“This year our vineyards have been badly affected by the impact of climate change and extreme weather events ranging from frost to drought,” Coste added. Many producers harvested grapes two weeks early on average, he said. “The quality of the grape is nevertheless expected to be very good across Europe which should make for an excellent wine,” Coste said.

The union did not provide details of the previous lowest output but a spokeswoman said it was the lowest since World War II as leading producers Italy, France, Spain and Germany saw sharp declines.

Continued here.