ALL OF OUR VINEYARD SEVERELY HIT BY FROST
A frost struck France in the week of 5 April, putting the entire sector to the test. Over the course of several nights, winegrowers in all French wine regions deployed numerous means to try to limit damage to the emerging buds. Unfortunately, the frost got the better of some plots, with temperatures sometimes reaching as low as -7°C. It severely damaged the most developed vines, hitting low-lying areas as well as less well-exposed plateaux.
While it is still early to define the precise extent of the damage, it is already clear that this spring frost will have a severe impact on the volume of the 2021 harvest. Our winegrowers and our cellars have drawn up an initial survey of the areas affected.
THE IMPACT ON OUR VINEYARD
BORDEAUX AND ENTRE-DEUX-MERS
The situation is quite varied. Low-lying areas were badly affected. Later-ripening varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, were less severely affected than white varieties. To date, an impact has been observed on around 35% of the crop.
ST-EMILION SATELLITES
The impact already seems unfortunately uneven for this sector. The Puisseguin appellation vineyards were affected to a lesser extent, while the Lussac vineyards were severely affected. To date, it is estimated that around 50% of the crop has been affected.
MEDOC VINEYARDS
Thanks to its high density of late-ripening grape varieties, the vineyard was little affected. The impact seems marginal to date. Nevertheless, the winegrowers are monitoring the vineyard very carefully in anticipation of a new episode of night-time frost.
THE SOUTH-WEST
Our winegrowers have been severely affected by the frost in the plains and valleys. While it is also still too early to make a firm assessment here, major damage has been observed in this region. Up to 50% of the Pécharmant appellation was affected, 25% of Monbazillac and 40% of Bordeaux.
We do not have precise information allowing us to make an assessment of certified Organic, Agriconfiance or Demeter vineyards. We will have the statistics in a few days. The sector has set up a support number for winegrowers and is still looking for solutions to give them the best possible support.
Blaye & Bourg
BOURG BLAYE
In Bourg & Blaye, the impact in the vineyard was varied. The Blaye appellation was a little worse affected than Bourg. A review is under way to estimate the proportion of buds that the frost spared.
SUPPORT THE SECTOR
This episode is a sad reminder of previous frosts in 2012 and 2017. The difference is that the frost hit earlier this year. As the fruiting buds have not all emerged yet, the impact on the crop should be less severe. However, we will have to wait for the risk of frost to end and monitor the development of our plots to draw up a precise assessment of the extent of the damage.
Now is the time for solidarity with all the winegrowers affected by this disaster. It will take a lot of unity and resilience to recover from such a catastrophe. We will be sure to give the best possible support to all of our winegrowers. We also count on the support and understanding of our customers, to overcome this ordeal together.
(c) Rauzan Vineyard
