Storm damage

HAILSTORMS DAMAGED SOME OF THE BEST VINEYARDS IN ITALY AND FRANCE THIS SUMMER, THE HARDEST HIT REGIONS BEING BAROLO AND BURGUNDY. THE LATTER WAS HAMMERED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN JUNE, WITH THE CÔTE DE BEAUNE, MEURSAULT AND POMMARD VINEYARDS SUFFERING BADLY. SOME VINEYARDS, INCLUDING THE LEGENDARY CLOS DES MOUCHES, REPORTED CROP LOSSES OF UP TO 90 PER CENT. IT’S FEARED THE DAMAGE WILL FURTHER REDUCE PRODUCTION IN BURGUNDY, WHICH WAS ALREADY FACING A SHORTAGE OF GRAPES. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE BURGUNDY ONSLAUGHT, STORMS HAMMERED BAROLO, NEAR THE VILLAGES OF LA MORRA AND MONFORTE D’ALBA. BUT MANY GROWERS THERE HAVE NETS THAT RISE AUTOMATICALLY TO PROTECT THE GRAPES WHEN HAIL IS FORECAST. THE FRENCH ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH NETS IN PARTS OF BURGUNDY, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS OVER HOW THEY MAY AFFECT VITICULTURE PRACTICES REQUIRED UNDER THE APPELLATION D’ORIGINE CONTRÔLÉE (AOC) SYSTEM.