Charity auction announced in aid of French winemakers

In the wake of the devastating frosts that have hit France and affected vines across Europe, iDealWine has announced a charity auction to support French winemakers.

The online wine auctioneer has partnered with Vendanges Solidaires, a French charity that provides financial and practical aid to winemakers who have been negatively impacted by climate change, on a charity sale.

iDealwine has organised the catalogue, valuation, and authentication of lots – with bids now open on the auction, which closes on 30 April.

Per a press release, auction highlights include Rousseau, Petrus, Clos Rougeard, Gonon, Château Leoville Poyferré, Alice et Olivier de Moor, Domaine des Croix, Clos des Papes, Domaine Bonneau du Martray, François Villard, Domaine de Chevalier, Domaine Bott-Geyl, Annie Sauvat, Vignoble du Rêveur, Egly Ouriet, Jean Foillard, Matthieu Deiss, Mas des Caprices, Château de Plaisance, Robert et Bernard Plageoles, Camin Larredya, Domaine Bordaxuria, Henri Bonneau, plus “many more including some very mysterious lots from iDealwine”.

We previously reported that the sharp frost earlier this month could cost the French wine industry some €2 billion, due to the damage caused to budding vines.

Northern Rhône producer, Jean-Michel Gérin told AFP that almost 90% of his crop had been lost to the frosts, representing some 70,000 bottles of wine.

“We should have six bunches of grapes per vine. Now we’re hoping for maybe one,” he said.

And across France’s major wine regions, reductions in yields for vignerons are expected to range from 20-70%, with high-value Burgundy anticipating a loss of 50% of this year’s crop.

It has further been reported that the French government will offer aid to wine producers who gambled with the weather due to the high costs of vineyard insurance.

Elsewhere in the world, David Bowley of Vinteloper in Australia told db that “crop insurance is ridiculously and prohibitively expensive for wine grapes”.

Describing it as “uneconomical”, he said “I don’t know of any growers in the Adelaide Hills who have crop insurance for their vineyards.”