by Sophie Kevany

An increase in a fatal vine disease known as ‘maladie du bois’, or wood sickness, in Bordeaux, Cognac and Gascony, has led to calls for an area of southwest France to be declared in a state of emergency.

The disease, of which there are several types, is also known as ‘esca’, vine cancer and black dead arm or BDA. It attacks the woody parts of the vine plant and used to be treated with an arsenic based product, but this was banned from use in 2001.

“Yes it is a problem, certainly this year, in France and all over the world,” said Hubert de Boüard of Chateau Angelus in Bordeaux’s St Emilion area. “It is very present in the Cabernet plants and even a bit in the Merlot this year,” he added, saying more research was needed into combating the disease.

The rate of infection depends very much on the region and the grape variety, but Jacques Grosman of the French government’s plant protection organisation (Organisation de la protection des végétaux) said globally the disease is progressing due to the wetter weather. “In Aquitaine [the Bordeaux region] for example there has been a progression from under 2%, up to levels of 5% in the [red wine] Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety,” he said.

Infections in white wine Sauvignon grapes are also rising in the Bordeaux area, he said. Overall, incidences of the disease in France were up by 1% between 2006 and 2007, and, although figures for 2008 are not yet available, Grosman said the 2008 weather conditions were certainly favorable to its progression.

One winemaker, in the southwest region of Gascony, told the local paper he could see his vines withering before his eyes. “We are going to have to pull up and replant vines that are only 15 years old,” he said.

A demonstration, to demand government assistance and have the area declared in agricultural crisis, is to be held in the area later this month.