Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Thursday 6 August 2009

Hail damage in Touraine vineyards

Hail damage to the canes

Bunches smashed


Again bunches badly affected with canes marked by the hail stones

More damaged bunches plus perhaps some sun scorching

Erosion caused by the storm but damage accentuated by scorched earth weedkiller policy

5 August 2009

Last evening had a quick wander in some of the local vineyards on the edge of Epeigné-les-Bois and Saint-Georges-sur-Cher. Unfortunately there are some sectors that have been very badly hit by hail with bunches lacerated, leaves shredded and canes marked by the hail stones. The worst damage I saw was in a vineyard just to the south of the A85 autroroute, while just to the north of the A85 there was some evidence of damage but very much less severe. Hail is very often extremely localised – there is less than a kilometre from the badly damaged vineyard and the one much less affected.

Less affected some nicks – véraison beginning

Nearly whole bunch one grape nicked by hail

Vine killed by either esca or eutypoise


Domaine Guenault, Saint-Georges-sur-Cher

No comments: