Champagne vineyards in France severely damaged by extreme hailstorms

The region of Champagne is located just outside of Paris

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Champagne vineyards in France have been left devastated after extreme hailstorms wreaked havoc in April and May.

1,800 hectares of the vineyards have been affected by the recent bout of stormy weather, which equates to around 4,447 acres.

A total of 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of the vineyards have been completely destroyed, as outlined in a recent statement by the Champagne Committee.

The onslaught of hail has had a very detrimental effect on the bloom that produces champagne.

“The destruction of the vineyard by hail, it is not uncommon: what is unusual, it is the precocity and the violence of the thunderstorms known until now,” the Champagne Committee told the AFP.

The vineyards most heavily impacted by the storms are located in Vitry-en-Perthois, the Marne Valley and in Côte des Bar.

In total, three percent of the harvest of the vineyards has been completely wiped out.

However, thanks to a reserve of the popular sparkling wine, sales of champagne shouldn’t falter as a result of the destruction caused by the hail storms.

The Champagne Committee has stated that the reserve will help to soften the blow caused by the weather.

However, the vineyard in the region of Côte des Bar has already had its fair share of weather-related issues.

In spring 2016 and 2017, the vineyard in southern Champagne was struck by a torrent of frost.

La Chaíne Météo has stated that a number of areas in France have been placed under orange alert due to risk of thunderstorms.

On Saturday, vineyards in Bordeaux were heavily damaged by hailstones “the size of pigeons’ eggs,” The Telegraph reported.