El Nino suspected as world wine output drops

Global wine production in 2016 is expected to be among the lowest in 20 years, an industry body said Thursday, suggesting climatic events such as El Nino could be to blame. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) estimated this year’s output at 259 million hectolitres (Mhl; there are 100 litres in a hectolitre), a year-on-year drop of five percent. This worldwide annual total, released at a news conference in Paris, is among the three lowest since 2000.