Text by: SW Team
Phylloxera Invades Canary Islands’ Vineyards for First Time; Wildfire Threatens Napa Valley Harvest; Château Lafleur is to Exit Bordeaux and Pomerol Appellations Amid Climate Adaptation
Château Lafleur is to Exit Bordeaux and Pomerol Appellations Amid Climate Adaptation
Lafleur, August 24, 2025 – In a landmark move, Société Civile du Château Lafleur has announced it will no longer adhere to the prestigious appellations of Bordeaux and Pomerol, starting with the 2025 vintage. Instead, its six wines will carry the broader Vin de France designation. The decision, driven by the accelerating impact of climate change, marks a bold step for the Guinaudeau family, who have stewarded Lafleur since 1985. The move allows them greater flexibility in adapting viticultural and winemaking practices outside the constraints of traditional appellation rules. While the classification will change, the winery emphasizes that nothing else will: "The same exceptional terroir, the same noble vine genetics, the same family, the same team, the same philosophy." “We change to remain the same,” the Lafleur team declared, reaffirming their commitment to quality and identity as they navigate a rapidly evolving wine world.
The Guinaudeau family. Photo – chateaulafleur.fr.
Wildfire Threatens Napa Valley Harvest
Calistoga, Napa Valley – late August 2025 – A wildfire that ignited on August 21 near Pickett Road north of Calistoga has now scorched over 6,800 acres across rugged terrain and remains only partially contained. As of late August, containment is hovering between 17% and 25%, while more than 2,700 firefighters – backed by aircraft, dozers, and engines – continue battling the blaze across steep slopes impacted by the 2020 Glass Fire. Authorities have issued evacuation orders and warnings affecting hundreds of residents across areas such as Aetna Springs and Pope Valley, though no structural losses have been confirmed.
Agricultural damage is estimated at $65 million, with the wine industry bearing the brunt of losses. Roughly 1,500 acres of farmland – about 3% of Napa Valley’s agricultural land – have been affected, largely due to smoke exposure threatening grape quality during harvest.
Winemakers, especially in the northeastern hills of Howell Mountain and Pope Valley, have begun testing grape samples for smoke taint. Many fear repeat losses like the 2020 vintage. Yet, some remain hopeful that favorable wind patterns and localized smoke conditions may spare their fruit. The Pickett Fire stands as a stark reminder of wildfire threats in California’s iconic wine country, amid mounting climate pressures and persistent drought.
Phylloxera Invades Canary Islands’ Vineyards for First Time
Tenerife, Canary Islands – mid‑August 2025 – In a viticultural wake‑up call, phylloxera – the notorious vine pest that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century – has been detected for the first time in the Canary Islands, specifically in two locations on Tenerife. The discovery, confirmed on 1 August in an abandoned vineyard in Valle de Guerra and later in La Matanza de Acentejo, has alarmed local producers. The archipelago’s centuries‑old vineyards have long been prized for their ungrafted vines, a rarity in a world where most vines are grafted onto phylloxera‑resistant rootstocks. An emergency meeting was convened on 8 August, uniting growers and officials to coordinate a response. Measures include isolating infected sites, strict hygiene for tools and farm attire, and intensified vineyard surveillance.
“This threatens our unmatched heritage of ungrafted, old‑vine vineyards,” warned Juan Jesús Méndez, president of DO Islas Canarias. The stakes are high: Tenerife’s 3,200 hectares of vineyards support nearly 100 wineries across six Protected Designations of Origin, and the island’s flourishing wine tourism industry draws millions of visitors each year. With no chemical cure available, the only long‑term defense may involve grafting onto American rootstocks – a drastic shift for a region that has long celebrated its ungrafted tradition. As Canary Island vintners race to contain the outbreak, the future of a unique viticultural legacy hangs in the balance.
