‘Worst crisis since WWII’: Bordeaux wildfires continue amid extreme heat

Wildfires near Bordeaux—described by President Macron as France's worst crisis since WWII—are devastating the region's wine sector at the worst possible time. Thousands of firefighters are battling blazes in the Gironde region, forcing over 220,000 evacuations and destroying hundreds of homes. The French government has urged tourists to avoid the area, dealing a serious blow to wine tourism, which winemakers say was one of the few bright spots for Bordeaux producers already struggling with falling consumption. Estate closures and lost hospitality revenue are mounting as thick smoke blankets châteaux and villages across this world-renowned wine region.