Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu: hail storm Monday 22nd August

Eric Chevalier, Domaine de l'Aujardière, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu

The southern sector of Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu around the communes of Corcoué-sur-Logne, La Limouzinière and Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu was hit by a hailstorm on Monday night. I understand that Eric Chevalier was unfortunately amongst the producers affected.

As well as Muscadet this sector also produces vin de pays. The damage wrought by the hail has brought the harvest for the white grapes forward by about a week with picking starting this week. Unfortunately as the red grapes are not yet ripe, it is not possible to pick them now. Instead just hope that the damaged grapes do not turn rotten.    

More details here.

Eric Chevalier during the 2010 vintage

Photos showing the devastating power of hail

Hail damage in Cher Valley August 2009 (above and below)

Although over the years parts of the Loire have suffered from serious hail damage I have never seen quite such devastation as these photos of vineyards in Slovenia show. They come from the Cabot and Co blog and show damage from a recent hail storm both in the vineyards and on other agricultural crops.

I hope that this year the Loire avoids substantial hail damage. The only plus side is that hail damage is normally more localised and less widespread than frost but that is little consolation to producers who have been hit by hail.