Estates like Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Ausone have contributed towards another strong export performance for Bordeaux this year, although Alsace, Languedoc and the Loire Valley have all reduced the volume and value of their shipments.

Bordeaux saw a 26 per cent sales increase compared with last year, while Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone Valley also recorded improved exports, reports Decanter.

Overall, French wine shipments have increased significantly with a value of around €3.1 billion (£2.7 billion), according to trade commission Ubifrance, driven largely by non-European markets like China and the US.

Ubifrance project manager Marie Cambon told the publication: "Provence continues to benefit from a global trend for rose wines to be at the top of the export markets."

Last week, Harper's Wine and Spirit reported that grape picking in the Loire has started ahead of schedule, helped along by a warm spring that preceded a cool summer, resulting in "excellent levels of ripeness" across the whole of the region.