France’s food safety agency Anses has revoked authorisation for 20 copper-based fungicides, a move that could significantly impact organic viticulture. Only two products remain approved under strict new rules.

The decision by Anses, announced via Vitisphere, targets all powdered copper products including widely-used brands such as Kocide 2000 and Kocide Flow. While Champ Flo Ampli and Héliocuivre are still allowed, usage limits include a 4kg/ha annual cap, minimum seven-day intervals between treatments, and buffer zones near homes and water. Application during flowering is now prohibited.

The agency cited health risks to vineyard workers and inadequate safety data from manufacturers. The ban is especially controversial as many growers had returned to powdered forms due to cost pressures.

French organic producers fear the changes could push them back toward conventional farming. Meanwhile, German organic growers aren't expecting similar restrictions. With more products up for renewal, further bans could follow in 2026.

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As wildfires threaten California’s wine country, New Zealand wine-tech firm amaea says its VPx filtration can selectively remove smoke-taint markers, helping winemakers recover value and preserve style as they brace for another difficult harvest.

Since August 2023, amaea VPx has treated more than 368,000 gallons (about 1.4 million litres) of smoke-impacted wine for over 47 North American clients, following its late-2023 launch and a 2024 WINnovation Award. Consulting winemaker Christopher Hudson reports successful remediation of a 2023 Oregon Pinot Noir, noting strong sensory outcomes without the heavy stripping seen in older methods.

Built on molecularly imprinted polymers, VPx targets volatile phenols in a one-pass, low-pressure run, then regenerates the beads for reuse.

Scale is being achieved through a partnership with Napa’s VA Filtration, giving Californian wineries easy access as wildfires like the 17-day Pickett fire in Napa Valley are becoming increasingly common. “We’re focused on helping producers salvage quality” says amaea’s Eric Uganecz.

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Familia Torres has unveiled a striking agrivoltaic pergola over 1,000m² at Mas Rabell in Sant Martí Sarroca, raising solar panels five metres above vines to test how clean energy, shade and altered microclimate can boost vineyard resilience and fruit quality.

Part of the EU-backed Solarwine programme, the pilot compares opaque and semi-transparent bifacial panels, with power destined for the Torres Brandy ageing cellars and the nearby Mas Rabell restaurant.

The lofty clearance lets harvesters pass beneath, while data collection will track productivity, energy yield and the timing of ripening as summers heat up.

Leading the innovation, Mireia Torres says the goal is to delay ripening and protect grapes from extreme sun, marrying agriculture with renewable power for a more sustainable, profitable future. A companion trial runs in Castilla-La Mancha; together the projects have a budget of over €700,000, including nearly €600,000 of public funding. Results will inform a wider roll-out across Spain.

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California’s 2025 wine vintage is shaping up to be high in quality but historically low in volume, with industry leaders warning that the state may record its smallest grape harvest in more than half a century.

The season has been cool and dry, producing excellent fruit across many regions. Yet an oversupply of unsold wine and high farming costs mean swathes of vineyards may go unharvested. Allied Grape Growers president Jeff Bitter has suggested yields could fall below 2m tons, a level not seen since 1972, despite California having far more vines in the ground.

Growers like Tom Sinton of Starfield Vineyards are deliberately dropping fruit to cut costs, while others are stepping back entirely. For consumers, however, the crisis could mean only the best grapes are turned into wine. “The quality so far has been exceptional,” said Martha Barra of Barra of Mendocino.

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The fine wine market is in the midst of its toughest spell for over a decade, with the Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 Index down 4.9% this year and 26.6% below its 2022 peak. Prices have slipped beneath 2018 levels, prompting fears of a prolonged reset.

The slowdown mirrors the downturn after 2011, when Chinese buyers withdrew. This time, it is US demand that has waned, with tariffs and economic concerns discouraging collectors.

Wine merchants remain cautious, holding off on restocking until clear signs of recovery emerge, as shown by Liv-ex’s low bid-to-offer ratio of 0.15, similar to 2008 crisis levels.

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One of Bordeaux’s most prestigious estates, Château Lafleur, has stunned the wine world by announcing its departure from the Pomerol appellation. From the 2025 vintage, Lafleur will be labelled Vin de France, breaking nearly 90 years of tradition.

At around £650 a bottle, Lafleur is among the most prized wines of Bordeaux, sitting beside Petrus in both price and prestige. The Guinaudeau family, owners of the estate, said their decision was driven by Pomerol’s restrictions on irrigation, a practice they believe is essential in adapting to hotter, drier summers. Social media lit up when the news broke, forcing the family to issue a detailed statement explaining their stance.

Their move has opened debate across Bordeaux, with leading neighbours including Christian Moueix of Petrus acknowledging the urgent need to address irrigation rules. For many, Lafleur’s bold step signals a growing clash between tradition and climate change realities.

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