A climate under influences

Though it's not exceptional for their to be sudden changes in the weather here and with winters that are sometimes harsh, the Beaujolais region makes the most of a temperate climate that falls under three separate sets of influence. In winter, continental currents are a contributing factor in causing the frosts that can sometimes spread to spring. It's better to cover up and wait for the light winds from the ocean that, between seasons, stir up the regulating role of the River Saône and soften the temperature differences.

With the return of the summer come winds from the Mediterranean. This is when the Haut Beaujolais moun-tain chain is particularly good for protecting the vines and encourages the foehn wind that comes from the west which is heated and dried in summer as it passes over the peaks of the Beaujolais hills to go down to the Beaujolais plains.

Exposed to light rains, the vineyard can be subject to very high tem-peratures that will probably raise further with global warming. Although these long summer droughts are definitely favourable to the quality of the wine they can also be behind some quite devastating storms.