Wiine List: European wine harvest kicks off despite unsuitable conditions

The European wine harvest is in full swing but the late spring frost and hail and an extreme summer heatwave have not proved beneficial.

Most regions are looking at severely reduced crops, with France and Italy particularly badly hit — remember these are by far the two largest wine producing nations.

Italy’s yields are likely to be down by a quarter, the worst since the 1950s, and France will have its lowest since 1945 with Alsace, the Loire and the Right Bank of Bordeaux particularly badly hit. The good news is that quality levels should be above average but supply and demand issues may push up prices for the likes of Burgundy and Bordeaux.