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The vine disease flavescence dorée (golden yellowing) spread massively in Champagne in 2024. The number of infected vines rose from 920 in 2023 to over 10,300 in 2024, prompting the region's associations to call for mandatory testing of all vineyards and the development of an action plan to contain the disease.
"With over 10,000 vines affected in 2024, we are talking about several kilometres of marked plots," said Sébastien Debuisson, technical director of the Comité Champagne, during the general assembly of the Association Viticole Champenoise (AVC) on 5 December in Épernay. Seven communes are particularly affected, including Mailly-Champagne, Festigny and Mareuil-le-Port, which each have more than 1,000 infected vines.
In 2024, a total of 12,100 hectares were inspected, of which 4,000 hectares were voluntary and 8,200 hectares were subject to a mandatory inspection. "It is crucial that we act now," said Maxime Toubart, President of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de Champagne (SGV). "Living with the disease means dying with it. We need to examine all the communes in the appellation and introduce mandatory controls for the entire area."
From January 2025, a task force will therefore be set up comprising representatives of the SGV, the Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC) and the Comité Champagne. "This task force will develop a long-term plan to eradicate flavescence dorée," Toubart announced. The aim is to educate all players in the industry, intensify research and develop sustainable tools to combat the disease. "We must act now and redouble our efforts while it is still possible," he emphasised. The announced action plan will be presented at the beginning of 2025 and should form the basis for a sustainable solution.
Flavescence dorée is a quarantine disease caused by so-called phytoplasmas. The main vector of these bacteria is the American grapevine cyst nematode. Phytoplasma infestation causes metabolic disorders in the plant. This results in yellowing symptoms, growth disorders and sometimes the death of the vines. The most important means of containing flavescence dorée are uprooting the diseased vines and controlling the American vine borer with insecticides.
(ru / Vitisphere)