French wine country experiences wettest year on record

Welcome! 👋

Speaking of severe weather, I can’t stop thinking about my friends and colleagues in Florida whose homes and lives are being impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Milton.  

My heart goes out to you all.  

I’ll be heading to the Fort Lauderdale boat show at the end of the month, so I hope to see some of you there. 

Now, back to French wine country.  

Nature isn’t treating them so well either.  

The last time French winemakers faced a year this challenging was almost 70 years ago. 

In 1956, a severe frost hit Bordeaux, drastically reducing yields and forcing the region into a long, hard road to recovery. 

The same thing is happening again. 

Earlier this year, French vineyards were battered by extreme weather conditions, starting with a particularly wet season that led to a virulent outbreak of mildew. 

Vineyard owners across the country found themselves battling not only the elements but also rising costs as they worked diligently to protect their precious vines. 

Nature continued to wreak havoc on several winemaking regions and in July, Bordeaux was struck by hailstones the size of golf balls, causing extensive damage to vineyards. 

In areas like Sauveterre, some growers faced devastating losses of up to 70%, prompting desperate appeals for natural disaster aid.  

Champagne was also impacted, as heavy rainfall prevented grape flowers from developing into berries. 

“We have not been spared a single thing,” are the words of renowned winemaker David Lavantureux after severe weather destroyed his harvest.  

Domaine Roland Lavantureux, renowned for its exceptional Chardonnay and Premier Cru wines, faced a harvest that lasted just nine days – about half the usual time – meaning that the 2024 vintage will be one of the smallest to date. 

According to the Burgundy wine federation, nearly 2,500 acres of vines in the Chablis region were damaged. 

Global demand for Chablis remains strong, particularly in the United States. 

Last year, Chablis wine exports to the U.S. hit three million bottles, generating €368 million (£307 million), marking a 19% increase from the previous year. 

Given the limited yields for 2024, we’re expecting an even greater increase by the end of the year. 

We have just received an allocation of Jean-Paul et Benoît Droin Clos 2019 and Domaine Raveneau Chablis Valmur Grand Cru 2014. 

I expect these vintages to appreciate significantly in the next few years given the quality and scarcity, so act quickly if you want one. 

Get in touch to reserve yours, or simply reply to this email – we read every one.  

As always, cheers!

Michael Doerr

Founder & CEO, Oeno Group