Spanish wine production to fall by 20 percent

The 2017 wine grape harvest in Spain may be nearly 20% less than in 2016, surpassing previous estimates, according to the Spanish Minister of Agriculture.

Total production from the 2017 harvest could be around 35.6 million litres of wine, compared to 44 million litres the previous year, a decrease of 19.6%, said the Ministry in a press release.

If so, the 2017 vintage will also be 17.6% lower in volume than the average of the last ten years.

This drop in production is due to spring frosts, heatwaves, particularly in southern Spain, and a severe drought. Spain is not the only country affected; the whole of Europe is facing a fall in production in 2017.