(TDB) - This year’s crop at two of the Garcin family’s wineries in Bordeaux were completely wiped out due to April frosts, which is estimated to have affected 60% of vineyards in the region, Hélène Garcin-Lévêque has revealed.

Speaking to dbHK prior to a media lunch to celebrate her flagship winery Clos L’Eglise’s 20 year anniversary, the energetic vintner lamented that Château d’Arce, the latest property purchased by her and her husband Patrice Lévêque in Côtes de Castillon, is “100 % gone”.

Across the Garonne River, the family’s Château Haut-Bergey in Pessac Léognan, which is now managed by her brother, also suffered complete loss by the cold snap, she added.

Compared with the two properties, her boutique winery Clos L’Eglise in Pomerol suffered relatively less, thanks to the fact that they responded promptly and lit candles all over the vineyards. Despite that, 1.2 hectares of vineyards were affected, out of its total 5,9 hectares, said the vintner.