Millésime 2024

2024 - A CHALLENGING YET SURPRISING VINTAGE FOR CENTRE-LOIRE

2024 will be remembered as one of the most trying years in recent decades for Centre-Loire winegrowers. Faced with unprecedented climatic conditions, growers had to
demonstrate resilience, tenacity, and commitment to make the most of a vintage that, despite the odds, holds the promise of some pleasant surprises.

Unpredictable weather and unprecedented challenges 

From spring onward, the weather proved erratic. Late frost and hailstorms struck parts of the vineyard in the spring. Record rainfall—up to twice the annual average—in stark contrast to recent droughtaffected vintages, brought relentless pressure from downy mildew, demanding significant effort from growers.

Adaptation during harvest

The rainfall and relatively cool temperatures set the stage for a late-ripening vintage. Slow grape maturation delayed the harvest which began tentatively around September 16 but was mostly concentrated in the first two weeks of October. Uneven ripening across plots—and even within individual rows—also forced growers to stagger their harvests to pick grapes at optimal maturity.

"Yields are generally lower than usual, with significant differences between plots depending on location, cultivation methods, vineyard work, and grape varieties," says François Dal from SICAVAC, the technical arm of Centre-Loire Wines. "Menetou-Salon was the worst affected, while Pouilly-Fumé suffered severe losses due to mildew, resulting in historically low yields, though slightly better than the disastrous 2021 vintage."

A promising quality despite adversity

Despite the challenges, the cool conditions of 2024 have benefited the whites, resulting in wines with balanced, elegant aromatic profiles, freshness, and good acidity. Alcohol levels are lower compared to recent vintages, but the overall quality is very promising.
“A pleasant surprise in this incredibly tough year is that the whites have developed balanced and aromatic profiles with freshness and good acidity,” says François Dal.

The 2024 vintage will undoubtedly be remembered as a "winegrower's vintage," with the quality of wines heavily dependent on the vigilance and adaptability of growers. With support from SICAVAC, the Centre-Loire winegrowers showcased their expertise and determination, turning a year of climatic adversity into a vintage that reflects their skill and resilience.