FYI from Decanter http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/frost-rot-and-mildew-cause-champagne-shor… Follow the link for far prettier formatting... Champagne shortage looms after frost, rot and mildew Caroline Henry August 9, 2016 163 shares Bad weather, rot and mildew in Champagne all mean that 2016 has been one of the lowest yielding Champagne seasons since the 1980s. image: http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2… Champagne shortage TAGS:News Home Champagne shortage The growing season is the most complicated Champagne has known since the very difficult season of 1956, said Eric Rodez, winemaker at the family-owned Champagne Rodez in Ambonnay. In spring, late frosts hit the Côte des Bar region, where a quarter of the Champagne vineyards are. Jean Pierre Fleury, winemaker at Champagne Fleury in Courteron told Decanter.com the frost at bud break caused him to lose 70% of his potential harvest. Champagne alternative: Top UK sparkling wines The Aube was once again hit by hailstorms later in the season, and then by the mildew epidemic sweeping through Champagne. Olivier Horiot, a grower and vigneron at Les Riceys, estimates the sub-region’s yield will be averaging around 2,500 to 3,000 kg/ hectare, well below the 10,700 kg/ hectares the CIVC decided on in July. Grower Champagne: 10 estates to know Yields are set in function of sales forecast, as well as the actual crop potential in the vines, and in difficult years they are supplemented by the Individual Reserves held by growers and houses. Charles Philipponnat, General Manager at Champagne Philipponnat, said that to meet the 2016 yields, growers and houses will have to dig heavily in their reserves. ‘We estimate that our average yield in the Marne is closer to 8,000 to 8,500 kg per hectare, which is in-line with the official estimates of 7,200 kg/hectare for the whole Champagne region.’ Rot damage Mildew and grey rot have also been causing more damage. image: https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/… Champagne shortage Grey rot in Champagne. Image: Caroline Henry Grey rot was first observed at the end of July but spread very quickly with 65% of the vineyards showing minor grey rot outbreaks. Magister, an agronomic agency which monitors a large selection of growers and houses vineyards, confirmed that 99% of the vineyards monitored had mildew symptoms. 34% of the vineyards had more than 10% loss in yield due to mildew, and in 4% of the vineyards more than half the crop has been affected. Edited by Ellie Douglas. View This Infographic To Find Out How Patient Data Has Evolved Over The Years And How You Can Stay Ahead Getting a clear, comprehensive patient record can be challenging. This infographic from CDW and Intel showcases how patient data has evolved over the years. Ad by CDW and Intel Related stories: image: http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2… << More weather related supply restrictions. >> Burgundy frost Burgundy hit by ‘worst frost since 1981’ Worst frost in 30 years may hit 2016 harvest. image: http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2… Hail stones in Domaine Gonon vineyards, mâcaonnais Heavy hailstorm hits Mâconnais vineyards in Burgundy Hailstorm in Mâconnais, Burgundy, damages 100% of first buds in some places Spring hail also hits Cahors in south-west France… image: http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2… Vineyards in Chablis, Burgundy Chablis prices to rise as weather hits 2016 vintage A major shortfall looms in Chablis, says expert... Read more at http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/frost-rot-and-mildew-cause-champagne-shor… -- James Ellingson cell 651 645 0753 Great Lakes Brewing News, 5219 Elliot Ave, Mpls, MN 55417 James(a)BrewingNews.com BeerGovernor(a)gmail.com