Wine producers in the Muscadet region must look foward to a significantly smaller harvest in 2008. Frost during the past week has caused considerable damage.

In particular, severe frost damage was caused in the wine-growing region close to Nantes in the nights from the 4th to the 8th of April. As is usual in such cases, the estimates of damage caused vary considerably, with figures ranging from 33 to 100 per cent damage. In any case, it appears to be the most severe frost damage seen since 1991. Otherregions along the Loire have been affected only slightly, or not at all. (WF)