In 2024, nearly eight percent of vineyards in Alsace succumbed to wood diseases, marking a troubling rise in vine health issues.
This figure represents a significant increase from the four percent recorded in 2023 and is the highest since 2016. Riesling, a cornerstone of Alsace’s viticulture, was particularly hard hit.
Findings from IFV Monitoring
The French wine and vine research organization, Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin (IFV), has been closely monitoring the health of 100 vineyard plots in Alsace for over two decades. These plots comprise approximately 30,000 vines, providing a comprehensive view of disease trends in the region.
According to their latest report, Riesling exhibited the highest symptom rate in 2024 at 12%, followed by Gewürztraminer at 9% and Auxerrois at 6.8%. The primary culprits behind these symptoms are fungal diseases such as Esca and Eutypiosis.
Climate Change as a Key Factor
Céline Abidon, head of the IFV regional office in Alsace, has pointed to climate change and its associated extreme weather conditions as major contributors to the uptick in disease prevalence. The increasingly erratic climate patterns, including hotter summers and unpredictable rainfall, create a conducive environment for fungal growth and spread, exacerbating vine susceptibility.
A Nuanced Approach to Disease Management
Despite the alarming rise in symptoms, the IFV’s research reveals a silver lining: around half of the affected vines show no symptoms the following year. Abidon advises against hastily uprooting diseased vines, recommending instead a more nuanced approach that allows plants a chance to recover.
Effective management involves targeted interventions based on the severity and progression of symptoms. These include:
- Shortening the Vine: This method is suitable for younger, more vigorous varieties like Gewürztraminer. By cutting back the affected portions, the vine’s health can often be restored.
- Gouging: A more intensive technique, gouging involves removing diseased wood from the vine. It is better suited for older vines, particularly Riesling, which are less likely to respond to simple pruning. However, this process is labor-intensive, requiring up to 15 minutes per vine, and demands significant expertise.
Challenges and Outlook
The growing prevalence of wood diseases in Alsace underscores the need for heightened vigilance and innovative solutions within the wine industry. With Riesling, a varietal integral to Alsace’s global reputation, facing heightened vulnerability, the stakes are particularly high.
While techniques like gouging and targeted pruning offer pathways to mitigate damage, their cost and labor intensity pose challenges for widespread adoption. Moving forward, the region’s viticulturists may need to explore additional strategies, including breeding disease-resistant vine varieties and implementing advanced monitoring systems to detect early signs of disease.
Source: Vitisphere