At the end of April, Loire, Champagne, Burgundy, Neuchâtel and Northern Switzerland, Germany, Graubünden and almost all of Austria were all hit by three nights of freezing temperatures at one of the worst possible times of the year.

Worst hit were parts of the French Loire and Austrian Steiermark where losses at the moment near 90%. Many of our producers were badly hit, the Langmann family especially and the Netzl's, but many others including our Pinot producers in Graubünden were affected, although not as badly.

Damage in Austria | Spectacular Photos of Fighting Frost in Graubunden (the dark patches are the heartbreak)

Many wines will be rarer and expensive in 2017 and prices for the 2015 vintage will have to rise. Merchants will have to take these increased costs into account when stocking up.