[France] Top Wine Producer In 2009

The International Organisation of Vine & Wine said France is the world's largest wine producer. The organisation reported that in 2009, France had a wine output of 45.7M , surpassing Italy with an estimated production of 45.5M hectolitres. Italy had been regarded as top winemaker since 2007. The head of OIV, Frederico Castellucci said: "The world economic crisis hasn't spared the vitivinicultural sector, particularly wine consumption. In 2009, we experienced stagnating production with an overall decrease in demand." The OIV has 43 member states. It said that worldwide viniculture production was close to 268M hectolitres, almost the same as 2008.