The traps of an exceptional harvest in Gironde

“The 2005 harvest is announced to be exceptional with a grape in a perfect sanitary state and a reasonable production thanks to the lack of water”, notices Christian Delpeuch, president of the Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wines (ICBW). Quality should be present for the harvests which began on August 24th at the Château Haut-Brion for the white wines, and must start today for the red wines. 2004 generous harvests, with 6,7 millions hectolitres collected for a trading reaching 5,5 millions triggered off arguments. The ICBW launched a “Bordeaux plan” to stop over-production. Concerning the harvests, reason seems to have won. Last week, the Giondist wine unions accepted to diminish by an average 9 % the production authorizations, a measure that should be abolished by the NIOA (National Institute for Original Appellation).

2005, September 20 - © Le Figaro Économie

Other information :
• Bordeaux
• Château Haut-Brion