Saint-Emilion 2020 Harvest May Suffer From Hail Damage

A hailstorm that hit the Saint-Emilion wine region in Bordeaux, France, may have damaged the vines enough to reduce the 2020 harvest, Sud Ouest newspaper reported.

The brief storm late Friday afternoon arrived at a time early in the growing season when the vines are fragile, Philippe Raymond, technical director of the Wine Council of Saint-Emilion, which represents 970 growers, told the newspaper. There was some damage, but it’s too soon to determine the extent, he said. Some growers reported Saturday that more than 50% of their vines were damaged, and the 2020 harvest will be hurt, the newspaper said.