The world is running low on wine this year

Bad weather affected wine production in France and South America.

(Image credit: iStock)

published 20 October 2016

We're experiencing a four-year low in the world's level of wine production, and the timing probably couldn't be worse for Americans. As the U.S. grapples with the election of a lifetime, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine revealed Thursday that worldwide wine production in 2016 is on track to fall 5 percent from last year's production levels. This means 2016 could mark one of the three worst years for wine production in almost two decades.

Thankfully, experts are confident the amount of wine made "should meet consumer demand" — though drinkers of malbec and carménère might have some cause for concern, The Guardian reported. The dip in wine production is being attributed to "climactic events," the effects of which are exceptionally pronounced in South America, where those two varieties are largely produced.

But while countries in South America — particularly Argentina, Brazil, and Chile — as well as European countries, including Italy and France, are seeing declines in wine output, the U.S. is pulling ahead. Production in the U.S. is forecast to grow 2 percent in 2016.