French fingers crossed for uncertain vintage

Extreme weather during August could spoil this years vintage for French vineyards. Although they escaped the rain and floods which swept through central Europe, heat, thunderstorms and strong south-westerly winds have hit the wine producing regions.

Now, a lack of sunshine during the critical ripening period could spoil the harvest. "Wine producers were on tenterhooks during August fearing that the vintage could be ruined by the storms. Now the worry is lack of sunshine", said Maurice Carroll of winedrive.com, which reports the problems in its monthly industry review.

A spokesman for the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux) said that the lack of August sunshine will mean this year's harvest will be late. Vignerons are hoping for a sunny September to redress the balance, but it is too early to say what the harvest will be like in terms of yields or vintage.

Similar reports are coming from the Loire, but the growers of Burgundy seem to have fared better. According to Madame Arlette Courty whose vineyard produces award winning Chablis: "Although parts of France have received some bad weather, we have had very little rain, and what we have had has been good for the vines. The high winds have not been a problem. The temperatures have been mostly within the norms for us, or occasionally just a bit higher".

Meanwhile, temperatures in Bordeaux and the Poitou-Charente have fluctuated dramatically from the mid 20’s to the high 40’s and despite local thunderstorms and high winds, vineyards have reported that just 2.5cm below the surface, the soil is bone dry. Similar problems have occurred in the past and the vines have survived to produce memorable wines, but this year, French fingers are being crossed.

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