Weather damages vineyards

File image

The topsy-turvey weather is wreaking havoc with vineyards.

The combination of early warmth and then the return to frosts is set to reduce harvests by as much as 80% - growers already know this year will be a bad year.  

The summery weather earlier this month triggered growth – but the more recent cold weather is damaging the buds. 

The worst hit farms are in cantons Geneva and Valais – so far Vaud has been spared. One grower told the press that the lake effect is helping at the moment – but they remain very worried. 

Farmers say the next two weeks will be crucial.

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play