On the island of Ré, the future remains uncertain http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2011/02/26/sur-l-ile-de-re-l-avenir-des-vignes-reste-incertain_1485557_3244.html When we went at its meeting last year, a week after the storm, nearly one meter of water covered his vines. At this time there, "said Gilles Brullon is unable to assess the damage caused by Xynthia on its 17 hectares of vines.
drizzly On this day of February 2011, we returned to see him in his farm situated at the entrance of La Couarde-sur-Mer, in the middle of the island of Ré. Before arriving there, you must drive many miles on the main road of the island, which gives to see the scars of the storm on the fields adjacent to the road, the vines spread, some green, some dead. The future of those of Mr. Brullon was, at that time uncertain. "It was covered with water, it was unclear what would happen "Remembers today what winemaker of 58 years in the hair still black. After the storm, it was not until the water flushes the fields -" a good ten days "- before we see more clearly.
Gilles BrullonLe Monde.fr
He says: "In spring we found that there were areas completely devastated, where the grapes are cultivated. Where soils were filtering the sea water had passed through and reached the roots. In these places, the vines have pumped salt and this has been catastrophic. "Four hectares of vineyards - more than 20% of all its operations - were destroyed. For now, he has torn the stocks of only one hectare, "but I know I'm going to pull the others too ..." he laments.
The vines died. The Monde.fr
Brullon is Mr. Potato farmer and president of the AOC, it must wait until November 2011 to know the exact shortfall on its entire 2010 crop (grapes and apples ground) but it already considers the losses to the tune of "10 or 15 000 euros." Like all operators affected, it may be a beneficiary of state subsidies, it can reinvest in its operation. If it has not yet seen the color - "was filled with records, we expect" - he already knows that the amount will be small: the aid is capped at EUR 15 000 per farm, "knowing that one hectare of vines costs between 20 and 30 000 euros, "he says.
unserviceable, the vines were uprooted. The Monde.fr
In addition, they can not be combined with aid in the conversion of vineyards, growers are entitled to which in normal times. "We'll have to make choices," predicts Dr. Brullon, replant vines or reinvest in something else. Still difficult choices to make because effects of the storm over the long term are still uncertain. "My biggest concern is for the harvest of 2011, says he. The vines that have survived have given us a fairly good harvest in 2010, but it feels tired and they harvest next year will be certainly weaker. "
Analyses were made on soils where vines did not survive and are "quite encouraging". But Mr.
Brullon, cautious, prefers to wait before replanting. "We see today that where the sea rose, the soil absorbs more water as before." Indeed, on the road Brullon exploitation, we can see that in some places, water from rain that fell in recent days has remained on the surface, unlike other places where everything has been absorbed.
Drowned, the earth absorbs more water as before. The Monde.fr
A year into the storm passed but Gilles Brullon do not always feel safe. "Come, I'll show you," he said, taking the wheel of his red pickup truck to let us go around the town. New dikes were built on the waterfront - there is also always some places, tractors and excavators at work. "They have improved a little dikes but I think there should be two or three meters behind reinforcement," said he, walking along the beach and showing places "where the sea can still happen. "
Before his field of dead vines that had not yet had the courage to tear, Gilles Brullon seems to implore the heavens: "Should not we go again. This kind of thing, until we remember the end of his days. "
The new levees built after the storm. The Monde.fr
