Wine Industry Report

According to recent figures released by the French Ministry of Agriculture from a study carried out by SCEES (le Service Central des Enquêtes et Etudes Statistiques) there is a potential harvest of some 49.9million hectolitres of which 23.0million hectolitres are appellation wines (VQPRD), 14.3million hectolitres vins de pays, 4.5m of other types including must and 8.1million hectolitres for wines suitable to be made into Cognac. This is potentially one of the lowest since the year 2000 and 6% below that of 2006. Appellation wines are on average 2% below the average and 3% below that of 2006.

These figures have continued to reduce during the year as a result of generally poor weather conditions since the spring (rain and cool temperatures). Most regions of France have been affected and to add to their woes they suffered hail. Many vignerons are looking to harvest early.

Regional outlook as at 1 August

Champagne
Some vineyards were affected with mildew which most managed to master. Hail storms destroyed 1000 hectares in the Marne and Aube. The appellation level has been fixed at 15,500kgs per hectare and is unlikely to be reached and most expect to obtain 14,000kgs/hectare. An advance of 3 weeks has been sustained and harvest is likely to start in the last week of August.

In Burgundy and Beaujolais the problems were generally mastered except in Beaujolais in exposed places (mildew, hail, burning sun). The vines of Saône-et-Loire, Côte d’Or et Yonne are all three weeks in advance with the harvest expected to start at the beginning of September.

In Alsace, generally in a good state except for some parcels which suffered hail in the Haut-Rhin. Some mildew (on the leaves) and botrytis on compact bunches. Exceptionally early harvest expected in the second half of August for crémant and beginning of September for still wines.

In Savoie, first harvests are expected in August. In the Jura despite a rainy July and some signs of rot, the grapes finally evolved favourably. The expectations are better than for last year.

In the Val de Loire, the pent up problems brought on by the rain remain. Coulure was also present in the Loir-et-Cher and les Deux-Sèvres. A hail storm in July also contributed to a revision of the forecasts for Indre and Loire.

In the Charentes, the humid cool conditions brought on coulure and mildew. Rain engrossed the bunches. The advance is reduced from 4 – 6 days.

In the south-west, including Bordeaux, mildew has touched almost all parcels. Quite extensive damage from coulure has been idenitified in the Midi-Pyrénées. Violent hail storms hit the sector of Côtes de St Mont in the Gers

In Languedoc-Roussillon, pent up problems remain strong – damage from oïdium and extensive mildew. As a result of tearing up vines the level of production will be less than in 2003. The harvest will start with an advance of about 10 days.

In Corsica hot winds and dryness caused important damage on the west coast. General conditions are good.

In other vineyards in the south-east, Le Vaucluse remains affected by hail storms in mid-June and the first signs of water stress were observed. Some signs of mildew, and above all a variable incidence of oïdium. The harvest will start the end of August/beginning September.

[Source: Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche]

France, Harvest Report