When it rains, it hails

• By: Stephen
• On: 06/28/2007 19:28:33
• In: From the Winery
• Comments: 0

There have been significant weather events that have happened recently that could affect wine.  While the massive flooding in Eastern Australia is certainly newsworthy, The Wine Messenger has, thus far, focused on producers in Western Australia, so for us and our consumers, of greater import are the hail storms throughout France (Rhône, Bordeaux and Alsace), and in particular the devastation in Alsace.  Upon reading about the weather in Alsace, we immediately attempted to contact our producers in the area.

 

 While we have not yet heard back from Cave de Ribeauvillé, we did receive good news from Domaine Loew today, here is a rough translation of what he said.

A storm of hail has to devastated 6,000 acres of vineyards in the North of Colmar. There nothing remains but the stalks, the vine wire and the posts. All the branches, leaves and grapes were severed and fell to the ground. Fortunately, we were not affected… we are in a sector where hail is virtually nonexistent, but once is enough!  In the area with the heaviest hail, there will be no harvest. In the others, where it was not so heavy, but still touched by the hail, the damage to the vines and grapes, and their subsequent regrowth, could lead to seasoned wood and cork tastes in the 2007 wines.

Concerning our vineyards, we were entirely saved. Our vines and fruit are currently between three weeks and a month ahead compared to a normal year.  2007 should be great. The advantage over 2003 is that there is still enough water to produce good acidity and to have an optimum maturity. However, the harvest is still 6 weeks away (at least) and anything is still possible.