Beaujolais Crus ravaged

THEY ARE NOT celebrating in Beaujolais these days. Parts of the wine region have been damaged by bad weather. One month after a first episode of hail, northern Beaujolais was hit by another hail storm and rain in late June. Mélina Condy, from wine body Inter-Beaujolais, said “3OOO hectares or 2O% of the vineyard” was at least partially damaged. Effects are feared worse than the May storm, because of violent winds and 8Omm of rain accompanying the hail. The crus of Beaujolais, the best part of the region, are situated in the north. Fleurie, one of them, has suffered most with an estimated 7O% to 8O% of the vineyards destroyed. Also a landslide that has spread soil on the roads, potentially disrupted vineyard terroirs.

Moulin-à-Vent was also hit hard. Biodynamic winemaker Thibault Liger-Belair estimated that he lost 75% of his 2O16 harvest. He sprayed valerian and arnica just after the hail and said that he hoped the pruning system used in Beaujolais (a short pruning) would lessen the impact on 2O17. Others crus hit impacted included Morgon, although the Côte de Py was only moderately affected overall. All vineyards in Chiroubles have now been damaged by hail, at least to some extent. This new disaster may further weaken a significant number of Beaujolais properties that are not believed to be in very good financial health.