Languedoc hail
Hail hits vines near the Pic-St-Loup in Languedoc, southern France, in 2016.
(Image credit: Jérôme Despey / @jeromedespey / Twitter)

A deluge of hail stones has hit vineyards in one of the most prestigious areas of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.

A fierce hailstorm on Wednesday afternoon (17 August) turned streets white and sent golf-ball sized stones of ice plunging into vineyards in the Pic-St-Loup area of Languedoc, north of Montpellier.

He said that a 92-year-old winemaker in the village told him he ‘couldn’t remember a hailstorm as violent as this one’.

Local officials have been attempting to measure the full damage of the downpour.

It was feared that some winemakers lost all of their crop, just weeks before the 2016 harvest was due to begin.

Initial estimates suggest the hail damaged up to 60% of the 2016 crop on average in the area.

But, it was too early to get a proper assessment and hailstorms are known to wreak havoc unevenly. One grower’s vineyard may survive relatively well while a neighbour’s is hit badly.

Jérôme Despey, head of the chamber of agriculture in the Hérault region of Languedoc, said there were ‘few words’ to describe the situation. ‘Our thoughts are with the winemakers and we are fully mobilised [to help],’ he said.

Bad weather has caused problems for winemakers in many parts of France this year.

Chablis has suffered two bouts of hail, and frost has severely curtailed the size of the likely harvest in Burgundy, Loire and Champagne.

Raccoon

Raccoon
(Image credit: Photo Cindy, Flickr)

Vineyard disasters quiz – test your knowledge

It's hard to believe, but true...

hail storm damage

An example of hail damage in the vineyard - in Chablis in 2016.
(Image credit: France TV Info)

Beaujolais crus ravaged by heavy hail storm

Some producers are calling for a state of emergency...

hail in chablis, burgundy

Hail hits Chablis, again...
(Image credit: Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne / Twitter @JBLemoyne)

‘Catastrophic’ hail in Chablis, Beaujolais and Cognac

hail storm damage

An example of hail damage in the vineyard - in Chablis in 2016.
(Image credit: France TV Info)

Hail in Chablis vineyards adds to frost woes

Hail stones in Domaine Gonon vineyards, mâcaonnais

Hail stones in Domaine Gonon vineyards.
(Image credit: Frédéric Billet @fredericbillet1 / Twitter)

Heavy hailstorm hits Mâconnais vineyards in Burgundy

Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.