47.6 million hectolitres of wine!

That is the amount that could be produced in France this year, according to the official wine industry at France Agrimer. This healthy figure is due to a combination of the harsh winter that killed off disease, the hot dry spring which encouraged vine growth, and the wet July that would have swelled the grapes while slowing down the growth of the plant. Some areas were able to begin les vendanges (the grape-picking) in mid-August. Last year, with equally difficult conditions, 45.3 million hectolitres of wine was produced.