France harvest underway

In a difficult year for many producers, harvest is now underway in France. Even the startling heat this summer has not saved some regions from disease, with both Bordeaux and Champagne both suffering from excessive moulds and mildews.

Bordeaux in particular has been devastated by mildew as a growing trend towards growers converting to organics means mildew is an increasing problem in Bordeaux's wet climate.

Champagne will have a bumper harvest with huge bunches of swollen grapes. Average bunch weight will be 220 grams, a jump over the 2005 record of 175 grams. The dilution of grape acidity means an earlier harvest to maintain acidity, but the fruit is not yet flavour ripe causing trade offs between unripe green flavours or lack of acidity. On top of this 11% of vineyards have been hit by fungus associated with the recent muggy weather.

Loire, Beaujolais and Northern Rhone are looking good for both quality and quantity. But Southern Rhone has been hit by the heat waves seen in Europe with harvest being brought forward. Further South, Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence all have suffered from drought and severe summer heatwaves, leaving small concentrated grapes. According to regional newspaper La Tribune, drought may well reduce the harvest by 50 percent in some areas while others will have seen vines stall and shut down due to lack of water.

Burgundy was also hit by drought at times but also had relieving rain, no general decision has been made as harvest, while started, has yet to get underway in earnest.