We can say that this year 2024 is far from being a long, quiet river for Burgundy winegrowers. The almost omnipresent rain required a lot of work in the vines to contain vegetation and mildew. But according to the Burgundy wine press service, winegrowers are keeping their spirits up with a flower which is developing quite well despite the vagaries of the weather, even if, from the north to the south of Burgundy, it spreads over nearly 2 weeks.
What are the consequences of the unusual spring?
Although the sun has returned to Burgundy for a few days, we must not forget that the last decade of April was particularly cool, accompanied by several nights of frost. The month of May continued to be cool, despite a small milder period between May 10 and 13. Then, temperatures continued to fluctuate around normal until the end of the month and the first days of June.
Disparities according to sectors
Temperatures then began to rise from June 5. This favored the very first flowers that we observe from this date, in early sectors. Early sectors which benefited from the maintenance of seasonal weather, with temperatures slightly above normal: flowering is therefore rapid.
On the other hand, the less early sectors experienced the return of cooler temperatures at the start of the second decade of June: the development of flowering was slowed down. The sudden rise in temperatures from June 17, however, allowed flowering to progress well.
Across Burgundy, the estimated mid-flowering stage is close to those observed in 2019 or 2021. Some are talking about the start of the harvest around September 8-10. A little earlier for the Crémant de Bourgogne and the early sectors.
