'Golf-ball-sized' hailstones wreak havoc in renowned French wine area '
Sizeable hailstones, from the size of a ping pong ball to a lime, pummeled north Burgundy, severely affecting Chablis, as per French weather agency Météo-France. The extent of the damage remained unknown as winegrowers evaluated their vineyards on Thursday, their representative reported to CNN.
These hailstones were part of a fierce and vigorous storm called a supercell storm, Météo-France stated.
"We've never encountered anything like this before. It's traumatic," Julie Fèvre, a winemaker, shared with BFM.
"Everything is partially ruined," Paul-Étienne Defaix, another winemaker mentioned.
Not long ago, grapevines in Chablis endured a plunge in temperatures, causing concern among winegrowers.
"In the course of eight days, we've experienced the full gamut of everything we've known: frost and hail," stated Vincent Laroche, winemaker, to CNN affiliate BFMTV. "When that strikes plants, it splits them in two," he added.
The government is assessing how to aid winemakers post-devastation, as declared by French agriculture minister Marc Fesneau through X.
Thunderstorms are typical this time of year; however, the storms this week, resulting in substantial rainfall and gigantic hailstones, were "especially aggressive," Météo-France informed CNN.
Chablis is renowned for its dry white wine, crafted from the prestigious Chardonnay grape, deemed the focal point of the local economy. An estimated 38 million bottles of Chablis Chardonnay wine are sold annually, generating about $340 million, the Burgundy wine association announced.
67% of Chablis wine is exported to overseas markets, the association revealed.
"If winemakers are unable to work well and secure a good harvest, it upsets everyone: artisans, business owners, the entire economic activity beyond Chablis," the Chablis mayor said to BFM.
Unusual weather conditions, such as drought or excessive heat, as well as frost and hailstorms, are influencing the wine industry globally.
"The world's wine harvest in 2023 was the lowest in 61 years due to 'extreme climatic conditions' and pervasive fungal diseases, as disclosed in an April report from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine," CNN stated.
Despite these challenging circumstances, some winemakers in France remain hopeful.
"We simply cannot give up. Demotivation doesn't help anything," Louis Poitout, a winemaker in Chablis, told BFM.
"Winemakers and farmers are generally combative. We need to find solutions, and we will," he concluded.
Contributing to CNN's reporting: Laura Paddison
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The climate crisis is leading to increasingly severe weather events worldwide, as evidenced by the huge hailstorm that hit Chablis.
The devastating impact of this hailstorm on the world-renowned Chablis wine region highlights the vulnerability of agriculture to extreme weather conditions across the globe.
Source: edition.cnn.com
