French winemakers forecast 30-year low harvest after severe drought and heat

Estimates suggest drop in production with vineyards also concerned smoke taint' from wildfires may affect quality

French vineyards hit by severe drought and heatwaves are expected to report a 30-year low in wine production after the country's hottest ever recorded summer, according to the agriculture ministry.

Initial estimates suggest winemakers will produce just under 34m hectolitres from this year's harvest: a drop of 6% on last year, and 17% less than the 2021-2025 average.