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French winemakers lit thousands of candles in their fields to warm vines and protect them from plunging temperatures.

Vineyards across the country were hit by the freezing conditions in what is becoming a worrying weather pattern for producers around this time of year.

Chablis vineyards of northeast Burgundy have been hit by the third big frost in six years, with winemakers concerned about how the volume of production may be affected.

A wine grower lights heaters early in the morning, to protect vineyards from frost damage outside Chablis, France, yesterday as overnight frosts sweep the nation

葡萄酒在火反温暖自己frost candles burn in a vineyard to protect blooming buds and flowers from the frost, in Chablis, Burgundy region today

A winegrower pictured today as he checks anti-frost candles that protect blooming buds and flowers from the frost, in a vineyard in Chablis, Burgundy region

Thomas Ventoura, 34, who is among the multiple winemakers who rushed out to warm his well-developed shoots with candles, said the changing weather threatens not only production but is also pushing up his insurance coverage for loss of harvest.

Chablis is a very dry white wine that is produced only in the Yonne region of Burgundy due to the area's specific climate.

But the emergence of mild weather early in the year followed by a spring frost, previously unusual, is now making the future of harvests uncertain.

Heaters are lit early in the morning to protect vineyards from frost damage outside Chablis, France, yesterday as worrying weather patterns threaten the future of production

Ice covered vineyards are seen early in the morning after water was sprayed to protect them from frost damage outside Chablis, France

Mr Ventoura said: 'Since 2016, there have been three big frosts. We're now starting to wonder about the future of our business at this time of the year.'

In Yonne, north of France, two thirds of the harvest was destroyed as a result of the frost last year, according to the farm ministry.

'There's a lot to be done in changing viticulture practices...in the context of climate change,' said Mathilde Civet, 25, a viticulture adviser to the Chambre d'Agriculture in Yonne, the local representative body for the farming sector.

A French winegrower lights anti-frost candles among vineyard fields to protect blooming buds in Chablis, Burgundy, France, today

Water is sprayed in a vineyard to protect blooming buds and flowers from the overnight frost, in Chablis, Burgundy region, pictured today

The emergence of mild weather early in the year followed by a spring frost, previously unusual, is now making the future of harvests uncertain. Pictured, vine buds near Chablis today

Winemakers were starting to join forces to invest in new tools, such as heating cables, to help mitigate the effects of such frosts, she said.

However, many in the industry are still reluctant to face up to the fact that the impact of climate change could be long lasting, Civet said.

'The recent episodes of drought and frosts have been a wake-up call for some, but in previous years there was a sort of denial.'

It comes as overnight frosts affected most of France yesterday, especially wrecking the Champagne area in the north which saw temperatures of -9C(15.8F).

Vineyards across the country were hit by the freezing conditions in what is becoming a worrying weather pattern for producers around this time of year. Pictured, a vineyard in Chablis today

Chablis vineyards (pictured today) of northeast Burgundy have been hit by the third big frost in six years, with winemakers concerned about how the volume of production may be affected

A French winegrower lights anti-frost candles among vineyards to protect blooming buds in Chablis, Burgundy in the north of France today

Heaters are lit early in the morning to protect vineyards from frost damage outside Chablis, France, yesterday. The president of the first French agricultural union FNSEA warned the frost will likely have 'very serious' consequences

Even areas further down in the south went as low as -5C(23F), with winemakers affected alongside farmers and fruit producers,The Local.frreports.

The president of the first French agricultural union FNSEA warned the frost will likely have 'very serious' consequences.

Christiane Lambert toldLe Parisien: 'It hit hard last night, the night was faithful to what Météo France had announced, the temperature dropped to minus five.

'There are many regions affected such as Dordogne, Burgundy, Alsace, Center-Val de Loire, Lot-et-Garonne, Maine-et-Loire.'

She added state support will be needed once the extent of the damage to potential harvests becomes clear.