Stormy weather, including hail, at the weekend caused severe damage to some wine producing regions of France, especially the Cognac region, where heavily damaged by up to 8% of the vineyards, the producers announced on Monday.

Other most affected regions are Chablis and Beaujolais.

The hail destroyed many of the vineyards, making the next harvest impossible or doubtful, said FNSEA, the largest agricultural Union in France.

Producers in Cognac reported that 5,000 to 6,000 acres, or 6-8%, vineyards were severely damaged by hail and heavy rain on Friday night.

There are places where the vineyards are destroyed to 100%, said the representative of the BNIC, the organization of producers of wine and Cognac.

Approximately of 27.5 millimetres of rain and 15-theantimicrobial hailstones fell in 15 minutes on the affected area.

BNIC held a meeting the same day to discuss the damage and impact on production.

In Burgundy rain and hail in the night from Friday to Saturday caused damage of about 600 hectares mainly in the South-West of Chablis is certainly the greatest vineyards in Burgundy - and in Okserua, said the representatives of the BIVB, the organization of wine producers of Burgundy.

For Chablis, this is the third disaster this year after frost in late April, and heavy rains on April 13.

Burgundy is located approximately 29 000 hectares of vineyards.

In the Beaujolais region, famous for the popular Beaujolais Nouveau, approximately 1000 acres, or 6%, vineyards were killed by hail, but the exact damage is yet to be determined.

Stormy weather will reduce the crop of 2016, but also will affect future yields in all three regions.

FNSEA has called on the government to provide support to producers who suffered damage.

Source: Thomson Reuters