SAN PAOLO DI CIVITATE, Italy, Sept 15 (Reuters) – As Italy’s autumn grape harvest begins, winemakers are braced for a sharp drop in output after a rampant fungus ruined vines, thriving on drought followed by torrential spring rain.The plasmopara viticola fungus, which causes a disease named grape downy mildew, destroyed vines in many Italian regions and will result in a 12% production loss nationwide versus last year, according to wine lobbies UIV and Assoenologi and agriculture institute ISMEA.That means Italy is set to lose its position as the world’s top wine producer to France, which had ceded the crown nine …
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