Fungus and humidity cause problems for Italian wine

Italy’s wine grapes are in trouble this year.

There is a fungus called plasmopara viticola that has damaged vineyards in Italy. Italian vineyards have produced 12% less grapes this year compared to last year. 

Because of the decrease in production, Italy might lose its position as the biggest wine producer in the world. France will probably be the biggest producer this year.

The plasmopara viticola fungus really likes warm and humid weather. Italy had more warm and wet days this year because it was extra hot and rainy in May when grapes started to grow. 

The places with the most fungus are in the center and south of the country. In Abruzzo, they lost 40% of their grapes, and in Molise, they lost 45%. Puglia, which is famous for its Primitivo red wine, had 25% less grapes this year.

Some farmers lost their whole grape crop due to the fungus attack. Italy’s grape production is expected to be less than 44 million hectolitres this year, down from 50 million last year. A hectolitre is equal to 100 liters or 133 standard wine bottles.

France’s wine production is also down this year, but only 2%. 

The Italian government is giving one million euros to help grape farmers who had problems with the fungus. 

Fazil Dusunceli, who works at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, said that because of climate change, there are more extreme weather events that can hurt vineyards. He thinks we should invest in fungus-resistant grapes. 

Vocabulary

• Grape – 🍇; A small, juicy fruit that can be purple, red, or green, often used to make things like grape juice and wine
• Fungus – A type of tiny plant that can grow on other things and sometimes harm them, like mushrooms
• Damage – physical harm that is done to something; destruction; injury;
• Vineyard – A farm where grapes are grown
• Produce – to create or make something
• Compare – To look at two or more things and see how they are similar or different
• Decrease – to go down; to become less; become smaller
• Production – the process of making or creating something, usually on a large scale/in large numbers
• Lose – When you no longer have something you had before; can’t get back or find something you had;
• Position – a rank or level in a company, competition, or society; status; rating
• Humid – having a lot of moisture in the air; when the air feels wet and sticky, often during hot weather
• Crop – any type of plant that is grown to use as food
• Due to – because of; owing to
• Expect – to think something will happen; forecast; predict; suppose
• Million – 1,000,000 – one-million
• Down from – Less than before
• Equal – When two things are the same in amount or size; the same
• Standard – A normal or common way of doing things;
• Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
• Euro – The currency of the European Union
• Climate change – the fast and dangerous change in weather happening around the world
• Extreme weather event – unexpected, unusual, unpredictable severe or unseasonal weather; Very unusual and severe weather conditions, like hurricanes or tornadoes
• Invest – put money into; spend money on a project or business
• Resistant – When something can fight off or not get hurt by something else; strong against; Able to withstand something

Quiz

Time’s up

Discussion Questions

• What do you think are the possible consequences of the decrease in wine grape production in Italy?
• Do you believe it’s important for the government to provide financial help to grape farmers affected by crop diseases? Why or why not?
• What are the benefits of investing in fungus-resistant grapes?
• How might climate change affect other types of farming besides for grapes?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

www.reuters.com

Fungus and May downpours ravage Italy’s wine production

As Italy’s autumn grape harvest begins, winemakers are braced for a sharp drop in output after a rampant fungus ruined vines, thriving on drought followed by torrential spring rain.

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

Italy’s wine grapes are in _____ this year.

There is a fungus called plasmopara viticola that has _____ vineyards in Italy. Italian vineyards have _____ 12% less grapes this year compared to last year. 

Because of the _____ in production, Italy might lose its position as the biggest wine _____ in the world. France will probably be the biggest producer this _____.

The plasmopara viticola fungus really likes warm and _____ weather. Italy had more warm and _____ days this year because it was extra hot and _____ in May when grapes started to grow. 

The _____ with the most fungus are in the center and south of the _____. In Abruzzo, they lost 40% of their grapes, and in Molise, they lost 45%. Puglia, which is _____ for its Primitivo red wine, had 25% less grapes this year.

Some _____ lost their whole grape crop due to the fungus attack. Italy’s _____ production is expected to be _____ than 44 million hectolitres this year, down from 50 million _____ year. A hectolitre is equal to 100 liters or 133 standard wine _____.

France’s wine production is also _____ this year, but only 2%. 

The Italian government is giving _____ million euros to help grape farmers who had problems with the _____. 

Fazil Dusunceli, who works at the _____ Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, said that because of _____ change, there are more extreme weather events that can _____ vineyards. He thinks we should _____ in fungus-resistant grapes.