In what is rapidly becoming a recurring theme for French viticulture, downy mildew has returned again to vineyards this year. As rain has continued through the spring and into the summer, having already heavier than expected across the winter, fungal disease has spread across various wine regions, including Bordeaux. The spring of 2024 has been the wettest since 2008 and one of the wettest on record, and as a result only a few places, such as regions near to the Mediterranean and the Spanish border with the Pyrenees have been relatively spared. Production estimates Although the impact on the harvest remains uncertain, this week the country’s agriculture ministry will produce initial production estimates for the 2024 vintage on 9 August, indicating what and if the size of the issue will be. But already some producers and regions have spoken out about challenges, especially in Bordeaux. Last year, the spring’s wet and warm weather caused an “early and very virulent” outbreak of mildew in the region, with Alexandre Davy of the French Institute of Vine and Wine (IFV) telling a CIVB webinar that there was mildew “almost everywhere” in the Libourne area on a “frequent or even very frequent basis”.
In addition, more mildew outbreaks just before harvest had a devastating impact. Nicolas Morain from MSA Gironde, the local department of France’s agricultural social mutual organisation, even set up a help line for “traumatised” Bordeaux grape-growers who had “lost everything”.
He said there were calls from people “who are really in distress” and
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Champagne
