Vineyards in Gaillac battered by hail

n Monday 26 August, Thierry Massol visited villages along the path of the hailstorm that struck two days previously. “Brens, Técou, Lagrave and Montans were the worst affected”, explains the viticulture advisor at the Tarn chamber of agriculture. Two hundred and fifty hectares were affected to varying degrees. “60 ha have been totally wiped out. They are divided between three winegrowers – the worst affected lost 30 hectares of crop out of a total 50 ha on the estate”. The area along the left bank of the Tarn had already been damaged by frost in April, which reduced production potential across the entire Gaillac wine region by a quarter. In the aftermath, cold and rain caused a lot of shatter. “The crop will be very short”, predicts Massol.

Picking was due to begin around 2 September for Gamay and Mauzac but it will be brought forward in hail-affected blocks to avoid noble rot and acetic souring setting in. “Even if the fine weather has returned, the burst grapes are already sweet and could attract fruit flies. It would be a shame to lose out on quality when the crop showed good potential up until now”, adds Massol. The vineyards will be processed using thermovinification techniques and the wines will be blended back with the rest of the crop.