Wine output in Italy looks set to fall 12% this year to below 44 million hectolitres after extreme weather and fungal diseases severely hit vineyards. In joint reports, Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo Alimentare, Assoenologi Observatory and the Unione Italiana Vini said the harvest forecast could be the lightest harvest of the last six years, characterized by the “now chronic effects of climate change,” which created extreme weather patterns, including more than 70% rainy days in the first eight months of last year and created “a number of differences throughout the country.” In the north, levels are up slightly though, by 0.8%, while the central, southern and Italian islands could see hefty declines of 20% to 30%. French harvests are predicted to be 44 million to 47 million hectolitres, which would put it above Italy, although it, too, has struggled with extreme weather conditions impacting wine production.