What are the effects of the heat wave on French vineyards?

At the end of June, France experienced a heat wave with record-breaking temperatures in some cities. While a few regions, such as Brittany and Normandy, were largely spared from the extreme heat, others were severely affected, particularly in the south. And in the vineyards, this rise in temperatures is not without consequences—whether negative or positive. In fact, a distinction must be made between wine-growing regions that suffered damage—which was sometimes very significant—and those that benefited from these few days of extreme heat, even if the latter are fewer in number.

Vineyards Severely Damaged in the Southeast

In the Gard, the Pyrénées-Orientales, and the Hérault , the consequences of the recent heat wave have been catastrophic. Indeed, both departments had to contend with extremely high temperatures (over 45 degrees were recorded!) that took a toll on the vineyards. In just a few hours, the grapes scorched and the leaves dried up, as if everything had been singed by a blowtorch, according to Jérôme Despey, president of the Hérault Chamber of Agriculture. He notes that this is the first time in 30 years (he is also a winemaker) that he has seen “a vineyard scorched by a heat wave.” Some plots were even completely destroyed. Furthermore, due to the heat wave, fires broke out in some vineyards, causing damage. This was the case, for example, in Montfrin, in the Gard department. To assist the affected growers and winemakers and assess the damage, an emergency response team has been activated.

Wine-growing regions where high temperatures have positive effects

This heat wave occurred at the very beginning of summer, which is quite unusual … and a cause for concern for wine production, since there are still two months to go before the harvest. However, in some French wine-growing regions, the situation is less dire. In fact, quite the opposite is true. In the Bordeaux vineyards , this sudden rise in temperatures has been beneficial—even “magical,” according to the chair of the technical committee of the CIVB (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux). It has helped “kill off downy mildew,” as this disease, which ravages vineyards, is sensitive to heat. This is especially true since, at this time of year, the grapes in this vineyard are still small and therefore less sensitive to excessive sunlight. The risk of downy mildew has decreased, but another heat wave should be avoided, as the effects could be negative this time. Finally, regardless of the region, this intense heat has had one common consequence: the need to adjust work schedules in the vineyards.