Hail has again ravaged the Burgundy region. Within a period of 12 years, 6 episodes of hail have hit this wine region, bringing the production loss of two hundred domains, nigh on to 50%.
Solutions have been envisaged in order to limit the damage due to hail. The first one: anti-hail nets, these never saw the day, since they disfigure the Burgundy country-side, which aspires to enter UNESCO’s world classified patrimonies. Until the 80`s, the Burgundy area used airplanes to seed the clouds with a silver iodide solution, this had the effect of precipitating rain rather than hail. This extremely expensive system was abandoned due to the dangers incurred by the pilots.
The solution, is seeding the hail clouds by generators on the ground that send a mixture of compressed air and silver iodide solution up to a height ranging from one to three kilometers. This technique is already used around Toulouse, Bordeaux and the Rhone valley regions. This solution will limit the size and quantities of hailstones.
Thirty of these generators have been placed from the Côte de Beaune area to the Côte de Chalon area. Spaced by a distance of 10 kilometers from each other, these create a protective “net” covering over 35 square miles of vines.
Winegrowers are also asking the insurance companies to support them in this effort, due to the reduction in indemnities that this system brings to the protected regions.
