Portugal’s harvest should result in a growth in the volumes of wine produced by the country, despite the negative effects of the hot weather this summer.


Agence France Presse today reported data from Portugal’s national statistics office (INE) that estimated that each hectare of vineyard will produce 32 hectolitres (3,200 litres) of wine in 2003, a 7% increase over last year.


INE said: “Even though the heatwave during the first weeks of August scorched grapes in some cases, we continue to predict an increase in (wine) production when compared to last year.”