France braces for a slump in wine and champagne output due to poor weather

Champagne producers have warned their harvest potential has been cut by about half due to severe spring frosts

Champagne vineyards suffered damages by mildew fungus due to heavy rainfall in May. Picture: Yiming Woo Reuters

France's wine production could drop by as much as 30% this year to its lowest level in decades after vineyards were hit by spring frosts and summer downpours, its farm ministry said.

The weather toll on the harvest could bring further headaches for a French wine sector that has seen demand dented over the past year by the coronavirus pandemic and US tariffs.