Not a Good Year for Champagne

Preliminary reports suggest that Champagne production may be down 27% this year after spring frost and hailstorms wiped out grapes in the region, meaning production could be at its lowest since 2003.

In Champagne, the spring frost destroyed grapes on 4,600 hectares (11,367 acres). Almost a quarter of the region’s vineyards suffered from frost with flower buds entirely destroyed in 14% of the region. The growers in the Côte des Bar were the most severely affected. In Les Riceys 200 grape growers had 75% of their vines destroyed. There’s also concern from fungal diseases and mildew, so it’s definitely not been an easy growing year for Champagne.

The grape picking is predicted to start mid-September.

Wine is France’s biggest agricultural export, with 8.27 billion euros ($9.1 billion) in shipments last year. Champagne exports saw a 12% increase as producers including  LVMH and Vranken-Pommery Monopole reported strong demand in Japan and the U.S. America has been ranked as the world’s top Champagne market as per-case value rose by 20% last year.