Wine productions is expected to rise by 13-21% to between 42.6 million and 45.6 million hectolitres, the ministry projected in its first outlook for 2022.

A hectolitre is the equivalent of 100 litres, or 133 standard wine bottles.

The forecast range is even with to 7% ended the five-year average, it said.

Most areas experienced more favourable climate than last year for the flowering of vines, nonetheless for parts of the southwest which were affected by cold and hail, the ministry said.

"In these conditions, productions is trending towards an increase compared with last year in all wine sections, with the exception of Charentes," it said in a report.

"However, soil drought combined with heatwaves could limit this increase if they maintained until harvesting."

The French agricultural sector, the European Union's largest, fears mounting losses from the country's worst drought on characterize which has been fuelled by successive heatwaves. 

Dry, warm climate this year had reduced disease pressure on vines and was also set to lead to an early launch to the grape harvest, the ministry said.

Drought was but affecting grapes in regions such as Alsace in the east and Languedoc-Roussillon in the far southwest, while starting to curb harvest potential in Burgundy, it said.

Production in Bordeaux was set to fall under the five-year average after frost and hail damaged about 10,000 hectares to a varying extent, the ministry added.

The Champagne plot was set for a good harvest with output seen ended the five-year average, helped by rainfall in June and shrimp vine disease, it said.

(REUTERS)