Loire Harvest 2019

The Chenin Blanc grapes are now coming in as harvest continues here in the Loire valley.

Growers seem to be happy with the quality of the grapes but volumes are low in certain areas due to severe sunburn affecting yield this year.

Our neighbour Thierry Cosme who has been machine harvesting has brought in yields as low as 20hl/ha in some parcels. Unfortunately he had already leaf stripped before the heatwave came along and so grapes in those parcels suffered severe damage.

At Peter Hahn’s Clos de la Meslerie grapes were looking healthy and ripe with the classic hallmark of Chenin (all stages of maturity clearly visible on each bunch).

Today we have rain for the first time in months. A gentle soft rain that will be welcome. Picking resumes tomorrow.