Telegraph: France facing worst grape harvest in 40 years?

[Robin Garr]

Not one of the usual wine-business sources. Is The Telegraph accurate here, or sensationalizing? How will the Bordelaise spin this as another "vintage of the century"?

France facing worst grape harvest in 40 years

The 2013 harvest is expected to reach just 43.5m hectolitres - well below the 10-year average of 45.4m, according to forecasts from the FranceAgriMer public agricultural service.

That would make the 2013 harvest one of the worst in 40 years and only a slight improvement on last year's record low harvest of 41.4m, according to Jerome Despey, head of FranceAgriMer's viticulture section.

He said cool temperatures and excessive rains contributed to a particularly poor harvest, while some vineyard owners in famed wine regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy saw their harvests nearly wiped out by severe hailstorms.

Mr Despey added that early tests also showed low sugar content.

"Sugar hasn't developed in the grapes and we'll have much lower [alcohol] levels than in previous years," he added.

Forecasts released by the agriculture ministry earlier this month, before devastating storms in Bordeaux, had already predicted France would experience one of the smallest harvests in 40 years in 2013.

(Edited by Andrew Trotman)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... years.html

[Jenise]

Don't think it's sensationalizing. What I've read about the hail damage is pretty horrific.

[David M. Bueker]

But as with most countries, the vast majority of that "small" harvest is swill.

When I read the headline I thought it was sensationalising as France is a big wine growing country. I wondered if France in the headline should have been changed to Bordeaux!

In Alsace recently, the growers we spoke to were not too worried about the harvest. A little later than normal as it had been cooler - indeed it was cloudy and overcast for 4 of our 5 days there in early August, but that must happen every few years anyway. Vineyards workers were busy leaf trimming, etc. No indication at all of doom and gloom.

How can a 4.2% reduction from 45.4 to 43.5 be "well below" and a 5.1% increase from 41.4 to 43.5 be a "slight improvement"? I think Mr Depsey has only a slight mathematical ability.

Not one of the usual wine-business sources. Is The Telegraph accurate here, or sensationalizing?

I don't consider the Telegraph a good source for anything, particularly politics and international affairs . It is widely known as the Tory-grpah (after the nickname for the Conservative Party) for its right wing and nationalist views, indeed considerably to the right of the few remaining moderate members of that party.

Wine is more neutral ground but any opportunity to knock the French......?

The second part of August has generally been much finer and calmer than previously so something may be saved qualitatively though quantities are undoubtedly low in most regions. Let us wait for more professional reports.

When I read the headline I thought it was sensationalising as France is a big wine growing country. I wondered if France in the headline should have been changed to Bordeaux!

In Alsace recently, the growers we spoke to were not too worried about the harvest. A little later than normal as it had been cooler - indeed it was cloudy and overcast for 4 of our 5 days there in early August, but that must happen every few years anyway. Vineyards workers were busy leaf trimming, etc. No indication at all of doom and gloom.

...maybe there is some hope for me finding a dry, Alsatian Gewurztraminer again.

Doesn't seem "small" to me. When you're talking millions of anything, it doesn't seem that drastic a cut. There will always be plenty of wine somewhere in the world, an if you can't buy wine for a year? Well, that's why cellars were invented.

Doesn't seem "small" to me. When you're talking millions of anything, it doesn't seem that drastic a cut. There will always be plenty of wine somewhere in the world, an if you can't buy wine for a year? Well, that's why cellars were invented.

I don't think anyone is worried about the consumers but rather the producers.

[David M. Bueker]

Doesn't seem "small" to me. When you're talking millions of anything, it doesn't seem that drastic a cut. There will always be plenty of wine somewhere in the world, an if you can't buy wine for a year? Well, that's why cellars were invented.

I don't think anyone is worried about the consumers but rather the producers.

At the macro level it's near useless information.