Night-time temperatures dropped to as low as -5⁰C during the first week of May in certain parts of Germany. This could have a severe impact on this year’s German grape harvest.

Commenting on the severe frosts the German Wine Institute said it was too soon to assess the impact on the 2011 vintage, but local reports in Franken suggested that up to half the crop will be lost in some areas and in a few cases losses might be as high as 90 per cent.

This bad news follows last year’s 2010 vintage, which was the smallest seen in 25 years, and some people are even comparing the situation to the 1981 vintage. In particular the early maturing grape varieties, such as Dornfelder and Spatbugunder (Pinot Noir), have been badly affected and suffered damage. The frost has mainly affected vineyards located in low-lying areas, mainly due to the cool air accumulating in the valleys.

Meanwhile, just south of Bordeaux in France violent hailstorms wrought havoc in the sweet wine appellation of Sauternes as it de-vastated at least 40 per cent of the vineyards. To make things worse, before the hailstorms there had been unseasonably-warm weather in April, which had encouraged vines to shed their winter protection. According to some reports the hailstones were large enough to cause damage not only to the plants themselves but to the wood as well.

Two villages in particular – Sauternes and Bommes – were hit particularly hard out of the five which produce Sauternes and Barsac. Out of about 80 growers several leading growths suffered severe damage and reported losses.

Media reports claim that of its 113 hectares under vine, around 20 hectares at Château d’Yquem were affected by the storm, while 70 per cent of the harvest at La Tour Blanche is reported to have been lost. However it is still too early to assess the financial impact of the storm, but any adverse weather conditions will remain a threat from now on.

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