For the first time in years, Italy is no longer the world's largest wine producer, having been surpassed in quantity by France if preliminary estimates for the current harvest, which has been marked by extreme heat, are confirmed. This is the conclusion of Coldiretti's analysis of the harvest currently underway along the Peninsula and beyond the Alps, which could result in a historic volume overtake. "In Italy," says Coldiretti, "production is expected to fall by 14%, to around 43 million hectoliters, compared to the 50 million recorded last season, making 2023 one of the worst years in the history of the Italian vineyard, alongside 1948, 2007, and 2017." While in France, despite the damage caused by Peronospera and drought, the harvest should be between 44 and 47 million hectoliters, in line with the average for the period 2018-2022, while Spain should remain third with around 36 million hectoliters."
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