(RUVR) - This summer’s drought is expected to reduce Italy’s annual wine output by 5% to about 40.5mln hectoliters. At the same time, a high content of sugar in this year’s grapes holds a promise of excellent fortified wines and liquor. The Italian farming authorities estimate the damage from the drought and the torrential rains that followed it at 3bln euros. The regions of Veneto and Emilia-Romagna were particularly hard hit.