UPDATE 1 — French wine output expected to be lowest this century despite forecast upgrade

(Adds details throughout, table with estimates per region) By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, Oct 7 (Reuters) — France's wine output this year is expected to fall to its lowest level this century due to extreme heat and drought, despite an improved forecast released by the farm ministry on Wednesday. The world's second-largest wine producer is projected to produce 34.9 million hectolitres of wine this year, up from a forecast last month of 33.9 million, due to better-than-expected yields in Languedoc-Roussillon, the largest producing region. The revised estimate was down 2% from last year's poor output and 14% below the 2021/25 average. "This fall stems from both a reduction in vineyard area and lower yields caused by drought and intense summer heat," the ministry said in a report. "However, significant disparities remain between wine-growing regions: some are suffering substantial losses, while others are recording yields higher than those of the previous year," it added. Production in Languedoc-Roussillon improved thanks to late-summer rains and is now forecast at 2% above the five-year average. In Champagne, harvesting ended towards the beginning of September — the earliest.