Bordeaux wine harvest drops to lowest level since 1991
Often called the world's most famous wine country, Bordeaux -- France's biggest wine region -- produces the iconic Medoc, Saint-Emilion, and Pomerol high-end wines, as well as larger quantities of lower-priced produce.
In total, Bordeaux winemakers produced 3.3 million hectolitres of wine last year, after 3.8 million in 2023, a drop of 14 percent.
Unfavourable weather, especially episodes of frost, weighed on production, while a high level of rainfall in the spring favoured the spread of disease, notably mildew.
Another major factor was a government-subsidised reduction in the size of vineyards amid efforts to curb over-production.
Just 95,000 hectares of Bordeaux wine country was cultivated in 2024, down from 103,000 the year before.
But wine professionals detected a silver lining. They say low output would cause prices to rise, and demand to soak up stocks built up in years of excess production.
"This will happen over the coming months or years," said Christophe Chateau, a spokesman for the CIVB wine sector association, saying that wine sales had already outstripped current production last year.
"If you sell more than you produce, then you not only meet demand, you can dip into your stocks and, arithmetically, prices will rise," he told AFP.
Meanwhile, Bordeaux winemakers are concerned about the impact of any new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The United States is the Bordeaux region's top export market with wine worth €340 million shipped to the US last year.
"We're not sure what this will mean for sales," said Chateau. "If Trump slaps a 25-percent tax on French wines in the US, sales there will fall and the imbalances will continue."
Trump on Thursday unveiled a plan for "reciprocal tariffs" that could affect both allies and competitors, in an escalation of trade tensions since the start of his term.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
28 minutes ago
- France 24
African Union 'concerned' by 'negative impact' of US travel ban
01:52 05/06/2025 MAGA travel ban 'hodgepodge': 'They're throwing everything at the wall to see what will stick' Americas 05/06/2025 'We protect our society as a whole' when our leaders encourage us to unite against violent rhetoric Americas 04/06/2025 The real target is the Chinese economy, trade expert says, as 50% metals tariffs take effect Americas 04/06/2025 Musk getting out of DOGE: 'Trump administration moving away from one-on-one relationships' Americas 01/06/2025 PSG's victory: fans celebrate in the streets of New-York City Americas 01/06/2025 Mexico's judicial reform: Elections raise concerns over corruption Americas 01/06/2025 PSG Champions League victory: Celebrations as far away as Ecuador Americas 31/05/2025 US President Donald Trump increases tariffs on EU steel imports Americas 31/05/2025 US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warns of 'imminent' China threat Americas
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
'Very disappointed' Trump in stunning live break-up with Musk
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after Musk slammed his tax and spending mega-bill as an "abomination". The world's richest man responded by live-tweeting on his X social media platform as Trump spoke on television, saying that the Republican would not have won the 2024 election without him and slamming him for "ingratitude." In an extraordinary rant as visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat mutely beside him, 78-year-old Trump unloaded on SpaceX and Tesla boss Musk in his first comments on the issue. "I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem," Trump said when asked about Musk. The clash comes less than a week since Trump held a grand Oval Office farewell for Musk as he wrapped up his time leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). South African-born Musk, 53, hit back minutes later, saying Trump's claims he had advance sight of the bill were "false." "Whatever," he added above a video of Trump saying Musk was upset about the loss of subsidies for electric vehicles. Musk then ratcheted up the public spat even further, saying the Republican would have lost the election without his support. He was the biggest donor to Trump's campaign, to the tune of nearly $300 million. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," Musk said on X. "Such ingratitude." Tesla shares fell sharply on Wall Street, down eight percent, after his comments, in a sign of the huge stakes for a falling out between the world's richest man and its most powerful. 'A little make-up?' A wistful-sounding Trump took reporters through the break-up with Musk on live television, in what at times sounded more like a therapy session than a meeting with a foreign leader. Trump talked about Musk's farewell appearance in the Oval Office on Friday, when he turned up with a black eye that he said was caused by a punch from his son. Musk at the time was also facing reports of drug use on the Trump campaign trail. "You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We'll get you a little makeup," Trump said. "But he said, 'No, I don't think so,' which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is." Trump said he could understand why Musk was upset with some steps he had taken, including withdrawing a nominee to lead the NASA space agency whom the tech tycoon had backed. Through it all, the visiting German chancellor sat silently. Merz had prepared to avoid a repeat of the ambushes that Trump unleashed on the Ukrainian and South African presidents in the Oval Office -- but in the end it was Musk that the US president ambushed. At the center of the bitter row is Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on tax and spending. The centerpiece of his domestic agenda, it aims to continue tax cuts from his first term -- and could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk however called it a "disgusting abomination" on Tuesday, on the grounds that it will increase the US deficit. A day later, the magnate called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit." © 2025 AFP
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Did Merz achieve everything he wanted from meeting with Trump?
Friedrich Merz has held talks with US President Donald Trump in the White House, his first visit to Washington since becoming Germany's chancellor. The three topics that were most important during the meeting were defence spending, tariffs and Ukraine and according to a press statement released by Merz shortly before the meeting, the German side was well prepared for the meeting. German Council of Foreign Relations senior research fellow Rachel Tausenfreund said the meeting "could not have gone better for Merz." Tausenfreund says Merz's answers were "well crafted" and that "specifics over the tough trade negotiations were avoided." Trump said the White House was in good shape, that the new administration had "fixed it up, and having it tippy toppy" like "they have in Germany." Trump said both leaders feel it is "very sad" what is going on in Ukraine and added that between five and six thousand soldiers a week are being killed there. The US president mentioned the 75-minute phone conversation he had had with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, where Putin reportedly promised to retaliate to Ukraine's audacious drone strikes deep inside Russia on Sunday that that took out a third of the country's bombers. Trump said that he didn't think Putin was "playing games," and blamed former President Joe Biden for the full scale invasion starting. Trump also said he thinks Putin wants "the whole thing," referring to all of Ukraine. Merz suggested he wanted Germany and the US to play a joint role in ending the war. Merz also underlined the good relationship between Germany and US and said he was looking forward to "good cooperation" between both nations. Merz highlighted Germany's commitment to NATO after the government locked in billions of euros of additional defence spending. Relations between Germany and the US had grown frosty, particularly after the Trump administration accused Europe of "freeloading," regarding NATO and defence spending. The US administration is frustrated over what it views as insufficient European contributions. "We want to have the strongest conventional army in Europe," Merz said in the press release ahead of the conference. Trump welcomed the increase in Germany's spending on defence, although suggested he would eventually cap Germany's efforts to rearm. Merz said that Europe still needs US support and friendship ahead of Friday's D-Day anniversary. Trump claimed that under the Biden administration, the numbers for US recruitment for the army were the lowest ever, but now they have broken records. Merz asked how as Germany is having a tough time filling reserves, to which Trump replied: "spirit. They love our country again and you're going to do the same thing." Trump called Merz "difficult" but a good man and said he could imagine US troops would remain in Germany. Director of the Aspen Institute, Dr Stormy-Annika Mildner, says that whilst confrontational with tariff threats and talk of troop withdrawals, "this partnership requires more active management than ever. All the more important, then, that Chancellor Merz sought an early dialogue in Washington." "It seems good work was done ahead of time to let Trump know that Merz had different positions from Merkel on issues which are important to Trump. Trump seemed eager to position himself as a friend to Merz," Tausenfreund added. On the topic of Trump's recent US travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, the US president said: "I even hate to say this in front of the chancellor, but you have a little problem too with some of the people you let in. It's not your fault," and suggested he had warned former chancellor Angela Merkel not to open the borders in 2015 to allow over a million Syrian refugees in. Regarding tariffs, Europe is in danger of becoming flooded by steel after Trump increased tariffs on aluminium and steel to 50%. Asides from that the EU is also facing a 25% tariff on cars and a 10% levy on all other imports. The US has also launched several investigations into pharma, semiconductors and aircrafts that could lead to further tariffs. Trump has further threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all EU goods as of 9 July if negotiations fail to meet his expectations. Dr Stormy-Annika Mildner told Euronews that the relationship with the United States remains central to Germany "both economically and politically." On the subject of China and Trump's phone call with leader Xi Jinping, Trump said they struck a deal, but they needed to make sure "everyone understands what the deal is." He also said Jinping will be visiting the US and he'll be visiting China with US First Lady Melania Trump.
