Climate change is hitting wine producers hard worldwide; meanwhile France’s wine yield is on the rise (along with Germany, South Africa and New Zealand). Of the world’s 271 million hectoliters of wine, 46 million are made in France. According to Quartz, France is, for the first time since 1911, the world’s biggest wine producer.
Italy was number one in 2012 and 2013, but, according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) effects from climate change resulted in a much smaller harvest this year—nearly a 15% drop in Italian production. The harvest in Spain and Chile followed suit with a drop of 19% and 22%, respectively.
Nevertheless, those regions currently benefitting will soon need to consider how their vineyards might withstand climate change in the long run. World temperatures for 2014 have hovered 1.22º F above this century’s average according to the National Climatic Date Center. But for the moment, it’s good to be back on top. [Quartz] [Image: Flickr:/yonca60]