Storm damages Burgundy Vineyards
 

Some lost 70% of their crop.

http://www.french-news-online.com/wo...#axzz2ZzFsvwX0

This happens absolutely every year and is sensationalized by the press each time. In the end, it turns out that maybe 2% of the vineyards were affected since the severe storms are extremely local, and the harvest and resulting wine are totally normal with the same quantity and (hopefully) quality.

Just could it be an over reaction like kerouac hints at - IMO perhaps to boost the prices before harvest and curing? Order your best Bourgogne wines now?

No, that doesn't work because nobody knows yet how the harvest will turn out for the unaffected grapes. You have to wait at least until mid-August for the producers to start predicting how they think the crop will be depending on the alternating rain and sunshine as the grapes ripen.

Several reports say there is much damage Not an over reaction.

It was very local, we didn't get much water in Dijon and around so it is bad luck for the vineyards. More details on our local newspaper http://www.bienpublic.com/cote-d-or/...B-F1357F8CBB0D

Up to 70% on some estates. I think I know what that means.

The last big damage was 2003 in Sancerre. There the grapes were damaged and the plants/buds scoured back to destroy next year's (2004) crop as well as that year's (2003). I cannot see from the article what the individual plant level damage is.

The other thing about Burgundy is the shear smallness of some of the holdings. If you own 20 vines (and some of the great wines are made up of loads of small parcels) and the storm tears out your 20 vines then you have no wine for 5 years or so that any negociant will buy.

I heard from someone in Burgundy whose friend lost 80% the last storm which is usually with hail. He said losts of depression after these storms.

The articles mention damaged "slopes." There are thousands of slopes/parcels of vineyards. Some of them can be completely destroyed and not have much effect on the overall crop.

Yes, if the slope belongs to just one producer, he is out of luck if he doesn't have insurance (and most of them don't). Farming has always worked that way in every country in the world. And the other farmers will say how sorry they are while rejoicing that they will make more money off their own production.

The Financial Times ran an article to day about the hailstorm in Burgundy and the damage done to crops. The FT has a paywall, so I won't link the article, but the damage to the crops was significant.

I'm planning a trip to visit some of the wine areas around Beaune and saw the report of the damages suffered near Pommard as reported at the Bloomberg.com website.

"Damage affected 30 percent to 70 percent of vines in southern Pommard and 70 percent to 90 percent in the north. In Beaune, 10 percent to 90 percent of vines were hurt, with no plot left untouched"

The report also said the area hasn't had a full harvest since 2009.

Now I'm wondering what the Pommard and Volnay vineyards will look like when we are there in September. I certainly hope many recover and that there aren't more damaging weather before they can harvest their grapes. Deborah

There's always California, Australia, and South Africa.

I'll drink a glass of cheap red from Languedoc to your health.