Champagne producers battling severe outbreak of mildew after heavy rain
Champagne producers have been hit by severe outbreaks of mildew fungus following recent heavy rain in the region.
“The earth is so wet thtat it is even impossible to enter the rows of vines to work the soil and the leaves, Anne Malasasgne, co-owner of family-owned producer AR Lenoble told Decanter.
The Pinot Meuniers were by far the most badly affected varietal, she said, while the Chardonnay grapes have been largely spared. ‘We are working tirelessly weeks and weekends to protect our vines and future grapes. Everything depends on the weather forecast by mid-September.” The deputy chairman of the Comité Champagne Maxime Toubart told Reuters earlier this week that he feared up to half of the 2021 vintage may have been lost following harsh frosts in the spring and the recent mildew outbreaks. However, he said he didn’t expect to see any immediate issue with Champagne supplies as producers have good reserves.
Champagne industry leaders have set a maximum yield for the 2021 harvest at the more normal level of 10,000kg per hectare, up significantly compared to 2020. This comes after a a ‘dramatic rebound’ in global demand for Champagne.
Champagne shipments in the first half of this year hit record highs as merchants and restaurants sought to replenish cellars, said the Comité Champagne last week, up by 50% versus the first half of 2020, when demand sank to ‘historic lows’ following the start of the Covid pandemic.