On the night of Monday 16 to Tuesday, April 17, in the Loire Valley experienced severe frosts. 10 to 70% loss on the 2012 harvest, according to initial estimates of the inter.
"At night, temperatures were just negative but reasonable. Then early in the morning the wind picked up and the cold, down to -5 ° C, has picked everything in its path, "says Jean-Pierre almost breathless Gouvazé. The boss of InterLoire Tours just to tour the main sectors affected.
"It's not a disaster like 1991 (frozen history that eliminated two thirds of the crop, ie) but these are areas of severe frosts. "A freeze happens at the worst time for the vine when it has only two or three leaves unfolded tender.
HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE CHER VALLEY
"It is mainly the vines that are already identified as frost-shattered that have been affected" says JP Gouvazé. "The hearts of soils, the vines were not historical grilled by the cold. "
The early varieties such as chardonnay and gamay burned on the front lines with heavy damage in the Cher Valley, "especially in the rear coasts and plains. "The vineyard of Cheverny and Oisly are also affected, as well as on Walnut Dear" where Sauvignon débourrent early. "
More amazing, the soils of Cabernet Franc were swept by the wave of frost. "At Chinon, 200 hectares were affected especially on the lower coast of Panzoult common, with 15 and 30% of estimated losses for now. "Even finding on the gravel of Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil.
"I HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ALMOST OVER CROP"
Chenin side, estimates of Vouvray evoke the loss of 15% of volumes, much less than Montlouis where all of chenin vines are affected, 30 to 70%!
Bertrand Jousset (Domain and Lise Bertrand Jousset), resigned, remains positive: "I have colleagues who have virtually no harvest. When I see that it remains in our half, I will not complain. "In the suburbs of Tours, the younger generation is particularly fragile because Montlouis these neo-growers have no stock. "We are a young but very name of solidarity, we will help the poor 'ensures Bertrand Jousset.
As to the most northerly vineyard Loire, Jasnières and those of the Loire Valley, they were spared this time, like Anjou and Muscadet.