In one of the most testing years for winemakers in the Centre-Loire Valley, the impressive quality of the region’s whites stands out in 2024. This year has proven to be one of the most tumultuous years in recent memory for winemakers in the Centre-Loire valley. In 2022, the vintage was considered to be the best in 30 years, and while this year the narrative isn’t quite as celebratory, the 2024 vintage has emerged with some promising surprises, particularly for white wines. Marked by “erratic weather conditions, including late frosts, hailstorms, and record-breaking rainfall”, growers faced significant challenges, said François Dal from SICAVAC, the Centre-Loire’s technical advisory body. The season began on a turbulent note with late spring frosts and hail damaging parts of the vineyards. Rainfall that was nearly twice the average furthered the difficulties, triggering relentless outbreaks of downy mildew, a disease of the foliage. In stark contrast to the drought-ridden vintages of recent years, these conditions pushed growers to their limits, requiring a lot of vigilance and perseverance. Dal described 2024 as “one of the most challenging years in decades.” “Menetou-Salon vineyards were particularly affected, while Pouilly-Fumé also suffered significant loses due to mildew, resulting in historically low yields,” explains Dal. Late harvest, lower yields Cooler temperatures and heavy rains delayed grape maturation, leading to a late-ripening vintage. Harvest began cautiously around mid-September, with the main activity occurring in early October, around the same time as the company’s new director and co-president Francois Bouteille stepped in. However, uneven
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Wine
