At 5pm on 8th June, hailstorms hit Northeast China wine regions Funing and Changli, Hebei, destroying over 100ha vineyards.
Among the wine regions most seriously hit by the hailstorm were Longhushan of Funing and Qiaofushan of Changli. Over 100ha of wine plantings were almost completely destroyed, according to local officials.
In the last few weeks, Northeast China was hit repeatedly by hailstorms.
To prevent hail from damaging the vineyards, Chinese wine regions commonly use nets to cover their vines or hail cannons to disrupt the formation of hailstones.
Funing and Changli are both situated in Northeast of Beijing. The proximity to the sea means high humidity during growing seasons (April to October). Besides hailstorms, fungal diseases are also major challenges faced by these vineyards.
Hailstorm threatens not only the Chinese vineyards. At the end of May, Decanter.com reported that fierce hailstorms have damaged vineyards in parts of Chablis in Burgundy, plus Beaujolais and Cognac, leading the country's farming federation to declare a 'state of catastrophe' in the worst-hit areas.
Translated by Sylvia Wu / 吴嘉溦
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