France and parts of Europe hit by the worst frost in decades
Wide spread frost has hit many vineyards over several nights, last week, devastating many of France's top regions and parts of Europe.
Much of France including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône Valley, had had warm, mild weather encouraging bud burst, but the hard frost of several days meant Burgundy may have lost up to 50% of its crop, while the Rhône Valley is expecting its smallest harvest in 40 years.
Some producers in Chablis who were not prepared could have lost up to 95% of their crop. The French government has announced an agricultural disaster.
The UK has been affected but preventive measures and a bud burst that is two weeks behind France has meant much of the worst has been missed so far by producers who were prepared. But with temperatures as low as -3 °C not all will have escaped.
