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France loses 'World's Largest Wine Producer' title
Italy takes the lead in the ongoing battle for top spot
Bordeaux - a producer of great wines in France. Still popular for export, the wines of France are renowned across the globe for their quality. But today France is in fact selling fewer bottles abroad than neighbouring Spain and Italy.
No longer the world's largest producer, France has fallen from her pedestal, producing 47 million hectares in 2015, compared to Italy's 49 million hectares. Making Italy the top producer in 2015, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.
A wet & mild winter, dry spring & hot summer have created a great vintage in Bordeaux, although not in the volumes that we have seen in previous years. But this drop in volume is only one of the reasons for the drop in exports. Experts have said that more than 80% of exported French wines are sold for more than €5 per litre. "In contrast, Italian wines cost €2,50 per litre, while Spanish wines cost just €1,16," says a spokesman for French Federation for Wine and Spirits Exporters.
Despite national figures and export costs, there are plenty of top class Bordeaux wines, so make sure that your holiday to Bordeaux includes a visit to some of the regions wonderful vineyards.
