Beaujolais drastically cuts yields

Beaujolais has radically reduced its annual yield for the 2010 vintage as harvesting gets underway in the region.

The decision was taken back in July to set the yield between 32 and 25 hectolitres/hectare in Beaujolais.

This is a severe drop considering the average authorised yield in the region approaches 52hl/ha. Economic reasons were given for this decision, namely that last year the en primeur offering of 360,000hl saw takers for only 275,000hl.

Gérard Presle, president of the Organisme de Défense et de Gestion Beaujolais, explained his “difficult” decision: “We must redress the balance between supply and demand. In five years we have lost 50% of our volumes en primeur.

“Last year the prices fell to €139 per hl compared with €157 the year before. This fall in prices coupled with lower volumes led to a loss of €11 million in turnover.”

This change in the limits would allow them to “know, before the harvest, the volume of primeur wine” available, according to Presle.

Both Champagne and Beaujolais began harvesting on 13 September and pickers (nearly 55,000 in the latter) will be hard at it for the next two to three weeks now, as machines are banned in both regions.

The crop in both areas is described as being in good shape.

To read about Beaujolais ramping up its efforts for better recognition in the UK, see the October issue of the drinks business.

Rupert Millar, 16.09.2010