The ups and downs of world wine production

You win some you lose some or C'est La Vie as the French might say. Wine production in France is forecast to hit 45 million hectolitres this year up from 42 million last year, so although exports to China have fallen, France is still set to overtake Italy as the world's largest producer of wine by volume. Italy have had disastrous year with a 15% drop in production in 2014 due to a wet Spring and Summer. Its reported to be their worst harvest since 1950. Meanwhile South Africa is seeing an uplift in their sales, in the UK market, overtaking Spain as the 5th largest wine selling country. Alongside Argentina, South Africa is the only country to enjoy real growth in the UK market. Reports suggest that if South Africa continue its current growth levels it has every chance of overtaking the US as the 4th largest country in the off-trade within 2 years.