Bad weather dries up 2012 wine production

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LONDON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Wine lovers around the world could have less vino to swirl in their glasses in the near future because of bad weather this year, an industry organization said.

Grape harvests ruined by inclement conditions around the globe could cause wine production to fall to its lowest levels in nearly four decades, The Daily Telegraph reported in London Wednesday.

Output will fall by about 422.7 million gallons this year from 2011, predicted the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), the lowest levels since 1975.

France's production is expected to drop 19 percent to 1.07 billion gallons after the grape crop was damaged by winter drought, cold wet weather, hail, a heat wave and an arid summer, OIV said.

Italy's production was predicted to decline only 3.4 percent, to 1.08 billion gallons.

Production was expected to fall by 24 percent in Argentina, with smaller slumps in Spain,Hungary and New Zealand.

The only increase in wine output was expected in the United States, where production was predicted to grow 7.1 percent.