2010 harvest in Muscadet
Frost and severe attacks of mildew
likely to make 2016 less joyous
Melon de Bourgogne
August has shaded into September, so it is time to start making plans for covering the 2016 Loire harvest. Of course in some years like 2003 and 2011 picking would have already started. However, we knew already that as this year's flowering didn't happen until well into June that picking wouldn't start until well into September.
July and August have been very hot and dry in the Pays Nantais, which may have allowed the grapes to catch up a little. However, if it gets too hot the vines tend to shut down, so grape maturation can actually slow.
Weather stats from Météo France (Nantes)
July
Maximum temperatures:
Average: 25.2˚C compared to 24.8˚C norm (1990 to 2010)
Highest max temperature: 36.6 (19th July)
Rainfall:
5.8 mm compared to 45.9 mm norm (1990 to 2010)
Record lowest – 5.5 mm (1967)
Sunshine hours:
248.6 hours compared to 213.7 hours norm (1990 to 2010)
Record highest: 2003 with 295.5 hours in 2003
August
Maximum temperatures:
27.5˚ compared to 24.8 norm (1990 to 2010)
Rainfall:
11.6 mm compared to 44.1 mm norm (1990 to 2010)
Record lowest: 0.4 mm (1955)
Sunshine hours:
299.3 hours compared to 226.8 hours norm (1990 to 2010)
Previous record 292.3 hours (2003)
•••
Expected harvest dates:
Christelle Guibert/ Vincent Caillé: Vine Revival – Terre de Gneiss
Christelle expects that they will start picking around 22nd September
Sabine – Domaine Luneau-Papin: no definite date yet but towards the end of September.
