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STORY: Vincent Barbier grows grapes in one of western France's famous wine regions.

But the organic winemaker is facing a bitter fact: a combination of heavy rain and cold temperatures have devastated the fruit of his vine.

"We have a decline of about 90% on the estate, 80 to 90%. It's a catastrophe. There's no other word."

Barbier usually employs 20 pickers at harvest near the French city of Nantes,

but this year he only needs 8 to salvage what's left.

"The harvest is very complicated - really very, very few grapes, a lot of losses are linked to the climate of 2024, which in fact started at the end of 2023. We've had historic rainfall, we exceed the cumulative amounts of the humid tropical zones of the planet over the long term. And we've had exceptionally cold temperatures. So it's an explosive combination for the harvest."

Mildew has seriously damaged his fruit, turning the vines' leaves dark brown and destroying the grapes due to the fungus.

It's a similar story for wine production across France.

The farm ministry said wet conditions are helping spread diseases among vineyards and hampering flowering.

Last week the ministry reported output is down 18% from last year, forecasting production of 39.3 hectoliters.

That's a drop from the 40 to 43 million hectoliters projected last month.

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

Famous regions such as Champange, Bordeaux and Charentes have all been hit with declines in production this season.

Wine is famously one of France's biggest exports.

But the sector is facing declining domestic consumption, contributing to recent protests by farmers.