Wildfires and drought damage wine regions

During this current heat wave in Britain, there are key wine regions in Europe, being badly affected by the hot and dry conditions.

The heat has caused wildfires just south of Bordeaux, where two forest fires burned through more than 1,700 hectares in the area. The famous vineyards are not yet in danger of destruction, but the smoke could cause significant damage to this years harvest if the winds are blowing in their direction.

While in Northern Italy, the regions of Piedmont, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, are facing the worst drought since 1952. With 30% of Italy's agriculture coming from the fertile Po Valley whose Po River traverses the North of Italy into the Adriatic sea, poor snow melt and lack of rain has meant the river is 7ft lower than average. Recent rainfall in Borolo has helped stem some of the risk for this super premium region, but much of Italy’s gluggable Pinot Grigio, made in the fertile Po valley, is in regions where irrigation is limited such as Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and rain is much needed.