Italy has long been a leader in the wine industry, producing the world's highest volumes of one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages. But weather vagaries from dry winters to floods have cost the country its crown, paving the way for some of its neighbors to occupy the top spots.
For the first time in seven years, Italy slipped to second place in 2023’s wine harvest season, with France becoming the number one producer, according to data published by Copa-Cogeca, a European farming lobby representing nearly 22 million farmers and their families. French wine production rose 1.47% from the previous year, while Portugal saw an 8.6% increase during the same period. At the same time, Italy's harvest fell 11.92%.
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