France's wine production is heading toward its lowest level in nearly 70 years after a record-hot summer and severe drought damaged vineyards across the country, adding another difficult harvest to an industry already dealing with declining consumption and rising costs.
France's Agriculture Ministry estimates that the country will produce about 33.9 million hectoliters of wine in 2026, equivalent to roughly 4.5 billion bottles. That would be about 6% less than last year and 17% below the average recorded between 2021 and 2025, marking a third consecutive year of historically low production, CNBC reported.
