French champagne crop hit by freak April frosts (I'm almost starting to feel bad -- not)

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | April 19, 2003

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

PARIS – Up to half of France's 2003 champagne crop may be lost after vines were hit by freak frosts that producers described as the worst in almost 50 years.

Early estimates show Chardonnay grapes were the worst affected, with some 80 percent of the vines lost in the frosts between April 7 and 11, the French Champagne Producers' Federation (CIVC) said in a statement.

April is the month when the buds burst on the vines and green shoots appear.

"The first estimates could show a loss of up to 50 percent, all vines included," the CIVC said. "We can already classify this weather event as among the most remarkable in the last 70 years."

The last frosts of a similar magnitude occurred in 1957, when a cold front hit in two separate waves in April and May.

Producers remain on frost alert until mid-May. The CIVC said it was too early to estimate the damage to this year's crop as more cold weather could wreak additional damage, but favourable conditions could partly compensate for the losses.

Champagne vineyards cover three percent of France's wine-growing terrain, producing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes in chalky soil for the ultimate celebratory tipple.

France sold some 263 million bottles of bubbly in 2001 and CIVC estimates the figure rose by more than eight percent last year.

There have been fears that 2003 sales of French wine and other goods may be dented by boycotts by U.S. drinkers furious at France's vocal opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

[nevergore]

Buy Clifornian, Austrailian, Italian sparking wines.....

NeverGore

[cweese]

...time to call le whaaambulance...

[Bernard]

So the french got their grapes frosted? Sometimes God does have a sense of humor - now, about that aardvark...

[blackdog]

Bully Hill Vineyards of New York State make some really good wines. They are hard to get, but if you like wine and like the art form that it is, you can buy mixed cases over the phone or internet.

[ErnBatavia]

Would this qualify for that term, "Bad Karma"?

[blackdog]

I have farted in France's general direction and have run out of ammo. I asked God for a killing frost and for all the frogs in France to become anorexic.

[Sacajaweau]

I prayed that the USA grapes would be better than the French grapes this year. Geez, I didn't think God would read it THAT way.

Ah, the power of prayer.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Would this qualify for that term, "Bad Karma"?

ROFLMAO....that was a good one.

This is probably not such a bad thing for the Frenchies, as the only US source of sales worth a lot to them is Hollywood's elite. But, what with box office receipts WAY down and the backlash against these Traitor/actors, their spare Dom Perignon cash might be a little crimped.

Next on the Karma list......foot n mouth disease.

So much for the cheese.

[NonValueAdded]

Looks like we've now heard from a higher power.

[illumini]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ......

[Sabatier]

Yep. Kind of like "di vine" intervention!

[RightOnline]

It's long been acknowledged that California wines are equal to or exceed French wines in quality. I see no reason whatsoever to ever buy a French wine. Overrated, over-priced.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I wrote my own headline:

Freak Freeze Frosts Frogs--Franc Freefalls

[btcusn]

Too bad, wish they had a bumper crop this year, and got stuck with it all!! Now they can say that low sales are because of the bad harvest, not the boycott
Jack

[freebilly]

God is actually blessing the Frogs. He knew demand for Champagne would be down this year so he just made an adjustment to inventory levels....

Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville California-- producing California Sparklers since 1881....

[ODDITHER]

God has a way of getting peoples' attention. Sometimes it is a terrorist attack, sometimes it is a plague, sometimes it is weather, sometimes it is a good old fashioned depression.

With the French, it may take all of the above. After all, centuries of being backstabbing elitists is hard to change.

[YOMO]

French champagne crop hit by freak April frosts
##########################################################

Are they sure it isn't a MAN MADE FROST?
It sure is chilly in America buying FRENCH STUFF.

[Eala]

Guess that's going to mask the effect of my boycott somewhat...

[Hildy]

God works in mysterious ways....