Crime Spree Of The Week

I came across some distressing news for oenophiles this week. An unusually mild March followed by harsh frosts in April ravaged the fragile shoots of French vines – the result will be probably the poorest wine harvest in France since 1945, with output down to a mere 37.2 million hectolitres, a whopping 18% less than was harvested in 2016.

Worse still, the shortage of grapes has sparked off an unusual crime spree, which has left a number of growers crushed, if not shaken. Six and a half tonnes of grapes were nicked from a vineyard in Génissac, around 600 to 700 kg from one in Pomerol and around 500 vines were uprooted near Montagne. A fourth grape robbery occurred in Lelande-de-Pomerol. The local gendarmerie thinks that the culprits are professional vintners but, as yet, no one’s collar has been felt.

Irrespective of the euro pound conversion rate, it looks as though the prices of French plonk are set to rise.

You have been warned!

Filed under: News Tagged: Génissac, grape robberies in France, Lelande-de-Pomerol, lowest wine output in France since 1945, oenophiles, Pomerol