This year, fungal diseases have affected vineyards and, together with extreme weather conditions, this could lead to a 12% drop in Italian wine production. Also, the decline in consumption may be another reason for the loss of the position of the world’s leading producers of the drink, Reuters reports.
Production will drop to below 44 million hectares, which means that Italy will lose its position as the world’s largest wine producer, and France will regain the top spot for the first time in nine years.
The northern regions of Italy plan to register a slight increase in production by 0.8%. However, production is expected to fall by about 20% in the central regions and by about 30% in the south due to bad weather and the impact of a fungus called Plasmopara viticola.
The fungus, which affects the leaves and fruits of the vine, causes a disease called grape peronosporosis. At the same time, the quality of the wine will not be affected. Winemakers will be able to produce high-quality wines from the 2023 harvest.
The decline in production should also not be a cause for alarm, as existing stocks are more than 49 million hectoliters, the highest level in the past six years.
The problem is not so much the loss of Italy’s leadership in terms of production, but rather the slowdown in domestic and foreign demand, which is driving prices down.