Wildfires near Bordeaux bring more troubles to France's wine industry

SADIRAC, France (AP) — From his vineyards in Bordeaux wine country, Edouard le Grix de la Salle can sometimes smell the burning forests far away. The smoke brings a whiff of hardship for the region's economic fortunes.

Wildfires that have burned an area four times the size of Paris and driven 220,000 people from homes and some of the region's tourist attractions promise to sting France's already squeezed economy.

“It’s a physical apocalypse when you see all these sites where there’s nothing left aside from burnt homes and forests, and then there’s the economic apocalypse,” said Patrick Seguin, president of the regional chamber of commerce, his voice choking with emotion in a phone interview.

It's “going to be a stab in the back for what remains of our economy.”

Le Grix de la Salle is among entrepreneurs bracing for pain. French government appeals for people to avoid the region are causing consternation.

“It’s incredible that they’ve said such a thing, especially when wine tourism is becoming more and more important,” Le Grix de la Salle said.

Bordeaux’s legendary wine has seen consumption plunge as young people turn to other beverages and competition from vineyards abroad has grown. U.S. President Donald Trump ’s tariffs have given winemakers — and much of the global economy — an added hangover.

“The wine business has been in crisis for several years now and it’s worsening with the geopolitical problems, the now widespread problems of inflation and the fact that wine is falling out of fashion among younger people,” Le Grix de la Salle said.

“Tourism was really the only dynamic part of the business that was still growing, both for us and, more generally, for Bordeaux wines,” he said. “And now this comes along as a brake.”

His family's Grand Verdus wine estate is roughly 35 kilometers (20 miles) from the fires that have raged since last week on the other side of the Garonne River that runs through Bordeaux. Bordeaux's Gironde region is mainland France’s largest by area and the fires have hit only a small percentage of it. But the mark on its reputation is sizable.

“How did they not think about protecting that sector? And the cultural sector, too. There’s so much to visit in Bordeaux. There are so many museums, there are châteaux. It’s unbelievable,” Le Grix de la Salle said.

The region in southwest France is replete with vacation spots for tourists lured by soft-sand beaches, winemaking châteaux, some of France's largest pine forests and the historic city of Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The oyster-rich Arcachon Bay draws foodies. But the fire and evacuations have emptied some prime spots.

The chamber of commerce says 39,000 businesses have been affected in the region that's a hub of defense and aerospace industries, including Airbus, Dassault and Thales.

Even before the fires, the chamber of commerce said rising energy costs were squeezing profits. Some 94% of businesses responding to a poll of regional enterprises in mid-July said they face difficulties.

“We’re getting more and more calls from heads of small- and medium-sized businesses, tiny businesses and craft businesses that are calling for help and saying, ‘What am I going to do tomorrow?’” Seguin said.

Two commercial courts in the cities of Bordeaux and Libourne reported a 37% increase in business liquidations from June 2025 to the same month this year, he noted.

Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said some restaurateurs told him that reservations have plummeted. He is pushing back against other officials' pleas that people avoid the region. He repeatedly has noted that the city hasn't been evacuated and isn't closed for business.

“The museums are open, the cafes and restaurants are open,” he said. “Life also goes on in our beautiful city.”

Keaten reported from Lyon, France, and Leicester reported from Paris.

Grapes hang in a vineyard on the Grand Verdus wine estate in Sadirac, southwestern France's Bordeaux region, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eva van Dam)

Winemaker Edouard Le Grix de la Salle tends vines on his family's Grand Verdus wine estate in Sadirac, southwestern France's Bordeaux region, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eva van Dam)

The chateau of the Grand Verdus wine estate in Sadirac, southwestern France's Bordeaux region, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eva van Dam)

Winemaker Edouard Le Grix de la Salle tends vines on his family's Grand Verdus wine estate in Sadirac, southwestern France's Bordeaux region, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eva van Dam)

JACKSVONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Coach Liam Coen saw the ball on the ground more than he would have liked Wednesday when the Jacksonville Jaguars opened training camp. He also saw two-way player Travis Hunter make sharp cuts on defense and aggressive moves at receiver, a welcome sight.

What caught his attention was a team that looked poised to move forward, a rarity for a franchise that hasn't had consecutive 10-win seasons in 27 years.

That also was the last time the Jaguars made back-to-back postseason appearances.

“We haven't done anything to rest on our laurels here,” said Coen, whose first year with the Jaguars brought an AFC South title and a 13-4 season that ended with a 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills in a wild-card playoff game. "Last year was about finding an edge and creating an edge. And now we are attacking these edges with a relentless pursuit.

“And at the end of the day, we want to go play anywhere, anytime, anybody, doesn't matter,” he said. “Our mindset is we got to go prove it and go earn it because consistency is the truest measure of performance.”

Changes have been relatively minor since the season ended six months ago — running back Travis Etienne went to the New Orleans Saints and linebacker Devin Lloyd is now with Carolina. The coaching staff returns, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a year behind him in Coen's scheme.

Lawrence is coming off six months of getting stronger instead of recovering from injuries after a relatively healthy 2025. Coen said Lawrence, a No. 1 pick entering his sixth year, has spent time at a local high school with the receivers, though that didn't translate to the first day of camp.

“I thought it was a little sloppy in terms of drops and some inaccuracy, just not throwing and probably catching a ton with each other,” Coen said. “I don't like to see the ball on the ground as much as it probably was today. But I was pleased with some of the back and forth, and some of the hits in the run game as well.”

Hunter, the No. 2 pick in 2025, made it through only two months of his rookie season when he tore right knee ligaments in practice and was done for the year. He was limited in the spring, and was full speed on the first day of camp.

“Just good to see him back out there and he looks good,” Lawrence said. "He’s flying around. Seeing him play both sides is just always pretty cool. Just excited that he’s back on the field.”

Hunter had one drop in traffic when he leapt between a pair of defenders, slamming the ball to the ground in frustration when the play was over. He also made a sharp cut at cornerback that nearly led to a pick on a broken route.

“I was pleased to see him go up with no fear and just go up and try to make a great play,” Coen said.

Running back Chris Rodriguez, one of the few offseason acquisitions, was back on the field after a surgery on his left foot from an injury the first day of voluntary workouts. Rodriguez was signed to a two-year deal to bolster the running game with the departure of Etienne.

Coen, the offensive coordinator at Kentucky when Rodriguez played there, said his contributions would not be tangible until full contact with the bruiser of a back.

“What he brings to this team, I don’t think any of us are going to see throughout the entire training camp, honestly,” Coen said. “Until we play tackle football, it’s going to be very difficult for all of us here to gain a true appreciation for who he is and what he does.”

The only injury of note was to linebacker Jack Kiser, who grabbed his right knee on the fourth play and was helped off the field. Coen said Kiser would have an MRI and he was hopeful of a quick recovery. “He wasn't screaming or freaking out in pain,” Coen said.

Coen also said the Jaguars hosted receiver Zay Jones ahead of training camp. Jones, a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2016, spent two years with the Jaguars before they released him in April 2024. He played only 19 games with the Arizona Cardinals the last two years because of injuries.

“We'll see how things progress, but it was really good to get to meet him,” Coen said.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, (16) throws a pass during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Kelly Jordan)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, (16) throws a pass during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Kelly Jordan)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen talks to the media during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Kelly Jordan)

Jacksonville Jaguars quartback Trevor Lawrence (16), stretches during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Kelly Jordan)

Jackonville Jaguars wide receiver and corner back Travis Hunter (12) runs drils during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Kelly Jordan)