PARIS (Reuters) -France’s farm ministry lowered its projection for this year’s wine output on Tuesday to 36 million hectolitres, down from the 37.4 million forecast last month and 1% below last year’s harvest, citing a heatwave in August.

The revised forecast, based on the latest harvest results, was 16% below the five-year average.

“The grape harvest, now almost complete, confirms the adverse effects of the August heatwave on production potential in most regions,” the ministry said.

The hot and dry weather reduced production potential, accelerating grape ripening while limiting their growth, which late September rains failed to offset, the ministry said.

France is the world’s second-largest wine producer after Italy and the first exporter by value. Its wine output has been hit by adve

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