This year's crop will be 5% down on 2007, according to the report in Decanter, predicting the quantity of the harvest to be 43.6m hL compared to last year's 46.5 m hL
Viniflhor had initially predicted a harvest of 45.8 million hL. This was reduced recently because of the rain and hail storms in the majority of regions throughout France in July and August.
Francoise Brugiere, head of the Viniflhor studies division, says that the ongoing uprooting programme ordered by the EU Commission in Brussels to counter over-production of the 1980s also continues to help reduce production.
'We've been uprooting 14,000 hAs per year, which represents 800,000 hL of wine,' she says.
But poor weather has been the undoubtable culprit for the fall. 'From Bordeaux to Provence, freezing conditions hit the vineyards on the night of the 6-7 April – a critical period when the buds were very vulnerable. The Nantes region was also severely hit,' said Brugiere.
In later-ripening regions such as Champagne, Burgundy and Alsace, grape development was not at a stage where the vines could be affected. In the Rhone, precocious conditions meant most vineyards had already passed the critical phase of development and were also unaffected, according to the report.
However, damp weather throughout the summer months has plagued vineyards across the country.
Both Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon are expected to produce around 7% and 2% less AOC wines than last year respectively. In Bordeaux, top producers have battled all year against the elements and have lost a large amount of fruit in the process.
'You can't say we're drowning under grapes,' said Rémi Edange, assistant manager at the predominantly excellent white wine producer, Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac-Leognan. 'It's been a vintage where winegrowers have had to be very thorough, very precise and not let go.' Like many producers who have admitted privately to delWine, he also hinted that 2008 would not be a great vintage.
'In the Rhone Valley, Grenache and Syrah, the main varieties, carry less grapes than usual,' says the report. 'Grenache was greatly affected by rains and temperature fluctuation. Rhone Valley was also hit by heavy rains since the end of August and in the first week in September.
Regions that can boast a decent 2008 so far include Alsace and the Jura where the situation is considered to be satisfactory.
Champagne also seems to be under control though most champagne houses are expecting lower crops. Drop in the production of Chardonnay sees to be the main reason and it is expected the wine with Chardonnay as the predominant grape or blanc di blanc will be in shortage and hence more expensive this year. Vintners are expected to use more reserve wines this year for their non vintage wines. A drop of 10% in production is expected.
Burgundy also appears to be satisfactory though Beaujolais harvest is expected to be tricky according to Inter Beaujolais, the local trade body. This year will be marked by a higher incidence of vine-disease, due to relatively cool temperatures in early August, as well as some instances of rain and hail said Pascal Hardy, Manager, Beaujolais Development Commission. It will also mean a lower yield "which is not particularly bad news in a region like ours, which has been plagued by endemic over-production, says Hardy according to a report to delWine by the wine journalist, Hervé Lalau from Paris. The harvest has been shifted to closer to September 20, in the hope of getting some more sunshine on the vines.
Although Viniflhor also said that sunny weather at the end of the growing season will determine the quality of the vintage, some areas including the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux, have already started picking.
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