(Phys) - This year's French wine harvest is among the smallest in 30 years, down 10 percent from last year although not quite as bad as feared, authorities said Tuesday. 

French grape growers have produced 43.2 million hectolitres, according to data released by the French agriculture ministry, saying the November 1 harvest estimate was six percent lower than the average of the last five years.

Hail, frost and mildew have ravaged French vineyards since the spring, even if "precipitation since mid-September has benefited vines where harvest had not yet started," said the ministry's Agreste statistics service.

The result is "one of the weakest (harvests) for 30 years," even if not as bad had been forecast, said the ministry.

In September experts said the growing season had been challenged by frost and hail although capped by abundant sunshine, predicting a small yield but one of "great quality".

On Tuesday the ministry said the output slump "is mostly due to the springtime frost" which notably hit the Champagne, Bourgogne (Burgundy) and Loire Valley regions, and the lack of rain further south near the Mediterranean.