Following on some ice-cold nights in April, Californian winegrowers are concerned about the prospects for the 2008 vintage. The actual and final extent of the damage will only become apparent in a few weeks time.

In many regions of California - Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley or Mendocino - April brought a whole string of ice-cold nights. Only a part of the damage is apparent at this stage, but wine estates as well as the California Association of Winegrape Growers expect to suffer significant losses, compared to a normal year. Estimates of the loss range from one to ten per cent. (WF)