French Farmer’s Gamble on Heat-Resistant Pink Grapes Saves Farm Amid Climate Crisis

The production of this table grape does not require many means. No need to water the plants. A little rain and foliar fertilizer are enough to grow the vines. This variety has the advantage of being heat-resistant. But Pascal will have to treat his farm against downy mildew, a fungus that destroys the pink grapes.

This year again, he has good yields, despite the heat waves hitting France. "Even with this stifling heat, the plants are reacting. The fruits are very beautiful, I am very pleased with them," he told La Dépêche. On his farm, which covers a little more than one hectare, one can discover large bunches that can weigh up to three kilos. An impressive size that arouses curiosity. "People sometimes stop on the side of the road and wonder what it is, and others ask me for more information about these grapes," he says.

Pascal discovered this grape variety during a trip to Morocco in 2019. "They also produce it in Spain and Italy, so I thought, why not here," he explains. This is how the farmer, who produces plums, pears and apples, has decided to bet on pink grapes for the past few years. "I think I made the right decision. It saved me. I was able to get back on my feet thanks to the pink grapes," he admits. The yields testify to this. The Lotois harvests between 25 and 30 tons per hectare, every year. "It proved to me that I shouldn’t give up and that other solutions existed."

The pink grape harvest is done by hand or with pruning shears, at the end of August. After that, Pascal sells all of his production to a company based in Moissac. "I took the risk of growing these plants, without knowing if there would be customers behind it," says the farmer, who intends to continue developing this variety.