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Due to the much too mild winter temperatures, winegrowers in France fear that the vines will bud too early. Due to an Azores high, temperatures have been around two degrees above average since December. "The weather situation will continue at least until mid-January. So the vines will be exposed to a false spring for almost a month," said the agro-climatologist Serge Zaka to the wine magazine Vitisphere.
As a result of the exceptionally warm weather, vines in Bordeaux, south-west France, Jurançon, Languedoc and Roussillon, as well as throughout the Mediterranean region, could sprout as early as February. The mild and wet winter would also favour the development of diseases.
According to the report, the cold start to winter had put the vines into early dormancy in many vineyards. But after about ten days with temperatures above ten to twelve degrees, the vines begin their budding phase. Therefore, the winegrowers would have to be prepared for a fight against the frost in case of a cold snap in February, which is quite common. They fear serious damage.
(uka / Source: Vitisphere - Photo: Wikipedia - Brühl)