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Vineyard

US president Thomas Jefferson’s French wine tour has lasting legacy

The third President of the United States wanted an American wine industry to compete with the ‘debauchery’ of whisky

France is once again the world’s largest producer of wine

Worldwide production has declined due to bad weather - but this might be good news for producers

Winemakers face new problems each year due to climate change in France

Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains the unprecedented impact of extreme weather on his work in the vineyard

magazine

Actress Emma Watson’s French gin is ‘love letter to Burgundy’

We spoke to her brother and cofounder Alex about how they are following in their father’s footsteps by producing gin in Chablis

Career change: ‘What I learned at 54 working in a French vineyard’

We talk to Moira Tune about how exhausting vineyard work was the springboard to her new property career

From California to free life making wine in the 'Kansas of France'

Running an organic vineyard was never on the cards for this American until she travelled to France and fell for a Frenchman

How winemakers in France combat the effects of climate change

Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains how he deals with more heat and less rain in the vineyard

French vineyard so steep workers use ropes is now on world top 12 list

Everything is done by hand at the vineyard in Alsace - even harvesting by luge

Mini-pig breed’s weak neck is superpower against French vineyard weeds

A champagne producer’s organic experiment with dwarf pigs proves better than sheep or geese

Wine producers in France to distil surplus to avoid price drops

Producers want to make excess into pure alcohol for spirits - or even hand gel - to avoid a glut in the market as people drink less wine. Some producers are even ripping up vines

French vineyard yields: it’s quality versus quantity

Vigneron Jonathan Hesford looks at why regulating grapes on a bunch is so crucial for French wine producers

Bordeaux winegrowers demand money to uproot vines

As French winemakers struggle with declining exports and increased red tape, Brian McCulloch hears how some are looking to cut their losses altogether

Are there bargains to be found at France’s Foires aux Vins wine sales?

The annual sales generally run from September to October. We look at how much of a saving you can expect to make

Grape harvest begins earlier than ever in south France due to heat

One producer says he always begin harvesting early, partly because of the location of his plot, but that climate change is also having an impact

Explained: Sulphites in French wine

Increasing numbers of wines are being marketed as 'No Added Sulphites' or 'Sulphite-free'. Winemaker Jonathan Hesford writes on innovative marketing, mousy smells and false information

French vineyards restore stone walls to help jewelled lizards survive

The green ' lézard ocellé' – known in English as the ocellated or jewelled lizard – was once common across southern France but is becoming increasingly rare

French winemaker creates red wine sorbet for summer

The sorbet is 5.8% ABV and was made with a local artisan chocolatier-ice cream maker

French vines ready early amid Covid and climate challenges

Vines in France are ready a month earlier than normal, with the harvesting date breaking the 2003 record for the year, due to a particularly warm spring - but climate change and Covid are still presenting some issues.

Wine tasting: should we value enthusiasm over expertise?

Why we should appreciate the knowledge of enthusiasts and debunk tasteless wine snobbery.

Rosé crops lost due to freak spring frosts

Winemakers in Provence, where much of France’s rosé is produced, could lose up to half their harvest after an exceptional pre-dawn frost in late March.

My tasty day as a citizen wine jury member

Brian McCulloch developed a nose for wine as a student, but lost it when work took him to the UK. Now he’s in France, he is relearning old talents – and brushed up certain skills as a citizen wine jury member at a major event in Paris

Trump wine taxes threaten 100,000 jobs in France

At least 100,000 jobs in France could be at risk as the 25% import taxes imposed on French wine by US President Donald Trump continue to affect the industry, wine industry experts have said.

Burgundy wine map redraw plan sparks anger

A report from experts from France’s Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité, INAO which recommends the official wine map for Burgundy be redrawn, has provoked outrage from part of the wine world.

Flock of robot sheep cuts grass in French vineyards

Sheep are widely recognised as the best way to keep lawns trim but a French company is taking this a step further by producing a flock of grass-munching robots.

Why people booze but don’t binge in France

Wine columnist Jonathan Hesford asks if France’s drinking habits are in good health

French vineyards can now offer 'vendange vacations'

Law change means winegrowers can offer grape-picking holidays, under certain conditions

French Beaujolais vines destroyed by severe hailstorms

Entire crops of Beaujolais vines in eastern France have been severely damaged by violent hailstorms with hailstones bigger than ping pong balls.

Wildfire destroys 900 hectares in south of France

More than 900 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed near Carcassonne (Aude, Occitanie) this week after one of the summer’s biggest forest fires took more than 500 firefighters to manage.

A year in a French vineyard: June 2019

It takes bottle to prepare wine for sale - Jonathan Hesford on the demands and important processes of a wine’s bottling

A year in a French vineyard - February 2019

Vigneron Jonathan Hesford on what makes some wines more desirable than others

A year in a French vineyard - December 2018

Are cheaper bubble options any good? There are lower cost fizzy alternatives with plenty to offer says Jonathan Hesford

Structural benefits of vigneron grants in France

Forward-facing winemakers can benefit from official help, says Jonathan Hesford

Oenologist Antoine Médeville talks about his work

Antoine Médeville is an oenologue who is the director of a consultancy service, Oenoconseil, which gives advice on every stage of wine making from planting the vines to marketing the bottled end result to chateaux and winemakers in the Bordeaux area. In his office at Pauillac there is a wine testing laboratory and three oenologues , including himself, who work with 120 wine producers. Unsurprisingly September, when the wine harvest begins, is the busiest time of the year...

The truth about French vigneron subsidies

Grants for winemakers are anything but simple handouts, says Jonathan Hesford

Early French wine harvest suffers from lack of workers

Winemakers in Alsace may struggle to harvest their crops this year as an early season means the temporary workers on which they usually rely are not yet available.

Six different activities to try at vineyards

Traditionally, wine producers made wine and sold it. What stock was not bought in bulk by retailers they sold via their own boutiques, occasionally holding tastings to encourage people to buy a case or two.

Horses’ hooves stop rot disease and save vineyard

Slowly but surely, horses are being brought in to work France’s vineyards. In the Bordeaux region, organic Château le Puy has been using its own horses since 2000. It opened its doors to Brian McCulloch, who discovered the advantages of horsepower over machines

Vineyard

US president Thomas Jefferson’s French wine tour has lasting legacy

France is once again the world’s largest producer of wine

Winemakers face new problems each year due to climate change in France

Actress Emma Watson’s French gin is ‘love letter to Burgundy’

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2024 Map: see where in France road speeds are reverting to 90km/h limit

French ski station voted as best in the world

EU faces legal challenge from French lawyer over weedkiller sale decision

Will roadworthiness tests penalise drivers in France for removing emission-limiting liquid?

Ignoring this increasingly common French road sign could cost you €135

Free data leak: is it possible to change French bank account number?

Learning French: when to use d'ailleurs versus par ailleurs?

Career change: ‘What I learned at 54 working in a French vineyard’

From California to free life making wine in the 'Kansas of France'

How winemakers in France combat the effects of climate change

French vineyard so steep workers use ropes is now on world top 12 list

Mini-pig breed’s weak neck is superpower against French vineyard weeds

Wine producers in France to distil surplus to avoid price drops

French vineyard yields: it’s quality versus quantity

Bordeaux winegrowers demand money to uproot vines

Are there bargains to be found at France’s Foires aux Vins wine sales?

Grape harvest begins earlier than ever in south France due to heat

Winery in France offers bottle refill scheme to cut carbon footprint

How winemakers in France are reducing pesticide use

What does 'vin vivant' mean when referring to wine-making?

Explained: Sulphites in French wine

Are protective solar panels the future for French vineyards?

French study to find if living near vineyard increases pesticide risk

Too soon to assess impact of forest fire on French rosé harvest

France’s champagne vines hit by mildew but Covid stock stops shortages

A guide to the winemaker’s calendar in France

French vineyards restore stone walls to help jewelled lizards survive

French winemaker creates red wine sorbet for summer

French vines ready early amid Covid and climate challenges

Wine tasting: should we value enthusiasm over expertise?

Rosé crops lost due to freak spring frosts

My tasty day as a citizen wine jury member

Trump wine taxes threaten 100,000 jobs in France

Burgundy wine map redraw plan sparks anger

Flock of robot sheep cuts grass in French vineyards

Why people booze but don’t binge in France

French vineyards can now offer 'vendange vacations'

French Beaujolais vines destroyed by severe hailstorms

Wildfire destroys 900 hectares in south of France

A year in a French vineyard: June 2019

A year in a French vineyard - February 2019

A year in a French vineyard - December 2018

Structural benefits of vigneron grants in France

Oenologist Antoine Médeville talks about his work

The truth about French vigneron subsidies

Early French wine harvest suffers from lack of workers

Six different activities to try at vineyards

Horses’ hooves stop rot disease and save vineyard

Vignerons slam bid for cheap ‘made in Bourgogne’ wine

Wine auction is charity, but luxury-style

Naturists harvest French vineyard grapes entirely nude

Winemakers blamed for grape thefts

Vineyard solidarity helps beat weather

All things small and beautiful

George Lucas buys vineyard in the Var

Low wine harvest could damage economy, figures suggest

World-best rosé not sold in France but...

April frost may cost Bordeaux wine region €1billion

What is the real risk from pesticides?

Brexit impact on French wine

A guide to French wine regions

Time for growers to weigh the costs of pesticide and organic methods

Budburst season gives clues for year ahead