Italy biggest wine producer in 2015

(ANSA) - Brussels, October 7 - Italy has outstripped France to become the world's biggest producer of wine in 2015 according to European Commission estimates released on Wednesday.
    This year Italian vintners harvested the equivalent of 48.8 million hectolitres of wine, up 13% over 2014.
    By contrast their French rivals - who last year were in pole position - harvested the equivalent of 46.45 million hectolitres, down 1% on 2014.
    The variation was due to more favourable weather conditions in Italy this year. Spain came in third place at 36.6 million hectolitres, down 5% on last year.
    Germany and Portugal followed in fourth and fifth place with 8.788 million and 6.703 million hectolitres respectively.
    Overall EU member countries harvested the equivalent of 163.8 million hectolitres. The figures are based on estimates sent the 28 EU member states to the Commission.