A warmer & sunnier than average March leading to slightly earlier Budburst for most varieties, followed by a cooler second half of April. A devastating air frost on the night of the 26th April, destroyed up to 80% of new growth, with the highest proportion of damage on the early bud-break varieties. Vineyard thermometers showed temperatures as low as -5.8C. However secondary growth looked promising with a hot June & July, unfortunately August, September & October turned out to be cool and wet, slowing down the ripening period and providing ideal conditions for Peronospora (Downy) & Botrytis. Oidium (Powdery), although worse than last year, was not really a serious problem. August & September gave us a total of almost 250mm of rain, with precipitation at least once every 24 hours. A new problem, the fruit fly – Spotted Wing Drosophila suzukii (SWD) also gave us a major problem around harvest, causing serious damage to red varieties, particularly the Acolon. One to watch out for next year. Overall, a very tricky year !

Université Rennes 2 Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique L’Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin Inra Hochschule Geisenheim University Plumpton college Bordeaux Sciences Agro Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară 'Ion Ionescu de la Brad' ecoclimasol