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Bordeaux wine harvest plummets 40% after French region's frost-bitten 2017 | Bordeaux wine harvest plummets 40% after French region's frost-bitten 2017 |
(8 days later) | |
Wine production in the French region of Bordeaux shrank 40% last year, the Bordeaux wine council said on Wednesday, with severe frost sapping yields in a year that nonetheless produced a good vintage. | Wine production in the French region of Bordeaux shrank 40% last year, the Bordeaux wine council said on Wednesday, with severe frost sapping yields in a year that nonetheless produced a good vintage. |
“The total harvest in 2017 was 3.5m hectolitres, down 40% on 2016,” the council said, adding that vineyards in Saint-Émilion had been the worst affected. | “The total harvest in 2017 was 3.5m hectolitres, down 40% on 2016,” the council said, adding that vineyards in Saint-Émilion had been the worst affected. |
Some chateaux in France’s biggest wine-growing area had lost 80-90% of their harvest while others had lost none, the council added. | Some chateaux in France’s biggest wine-growing area had lost 80-90% of their harvest while others had lost none, the council added. |
The final figures will be published this month and are expected to show that 2017 produced France’s worst wine harvest since 1945. | The final figures will be published this month and are expected to show that 2017 produced France’s worst wine harvest since 1945. |
Vineyards found themselves coated in late frosts twice at the end of April, ravaging the fragile shoots and buds that emerged prematurely following an unusually mild March. | Vineyards found themselves coated in late frosts twice at the end of April, ravaging the fragile shoots and buds that emerged prematurely following an unusually mild March. |
To try to warm the vines, some producers in Bordeaux set fires in oil drums and placed them between the rows of budding grapevines. | To try to warm the vines, some producers in Bordeaux set fires in oil drums and placed them between the rows of budding grapevines. |
Vines in the north-eastern region of Alsace, which produces mainly white wines, were also hit by the frost, while those in the south suffered through an exceptionally dry summer. | Vines in the north-eastern region of Alsace, which produces mainly white wines, were also hit by the frost, while those in the south suffered through an exceptionally dry summer. |
There was a silver lining, however. While quantity was down, quality was up, meaning more enjoyment per bottle. | There was a silver lining, however. While quantity was down, quality was up, meaning more enjoyment per bottle. |