Italian winemakers have been vexed this year by one of the wettest and most "bizarre" vintages in recent memory, as one producer put it. Across the country an extremely mild winter accelerated the growing cycle, causing a premature onset of ripening. An unusually cool summer slowed it down but the lower temperatures also brought overly abundant rainfall throughout Italy, which hampered ripening and led to widespread vine disease.

The French wine industry is expecting a better harvest this year, despite drought and hail damage to some vineyards.
The Department of Agriculture has revised upwards its forecast for the 2014 harvest, estimating the potential of wine production to nearly 47 million hectoliters, with the summer rains promoting growth.