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Jerome Despey, the chairman of the French Wine Growers' Association, has revised the previously very optimistic harvest volume forecasts significantly downwards. At a press conference, he said that his association now expects only 44.5 million hectolitres. The Ministry of Agriculture had previously expected 46 to 48 million hectoliters. However, this is still about 20 percent more than in 2017 - one of the smallest harvests in France since 1945.
This year, the winegrowers would have to struggle with mildew infections and hailstorms in particular. In Burgundy, eleven percent of the vineyards are infected or threatened by infections. The massive heat in recent weeks had also significantly pushed the harvest dates forward.
(uka / Photo: Bureau de Champagne)