Joseph Helfrich, founder of France's largest winegrowers and trading group Les Grands Chais de France (GCF), expects a shortage of wines, rising prices and the loss of market shares. In an interview with vitisphere.com, he speaks of a shortage of around 13 million hectolitres, 80 per cent of which is white wine. The reason is the difficult conditions of the 2021 vintage with frost, mildew, hail and heat in large parts of Europe, which he calls a "perfect storm". But similar problems also affect the USA, Chile and New Zealand. As a result, he expects sharp price increases, which will lead to French wines losing market share in exports. "There will be delistings. In any case, the quantities will not be sufficient. The vintage is a real problem. There is no patent remedy," Helfrich said and emphasised: "We have to adapt. Those who don't adapt will disappear. It's as simple as that".
Les Grands Chais de France was founded in 1979 and is the largest private wine producer in France with 3,000 hectares of vineyards.
(al / Source: vitisphere; Photo: GCF)
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