Like many wine regions around the world, Champagne has now moved into a sustained stretch of heat and drought conditions, with three heatwaves already this season and another likely on the way this week. Spring was cool, with some frost pressure that reduced yields, though not in a way that appears to have been detrimental to overall quality.
An early harvest in mid-August had been widely expected. However, the combination of heat and a prolonged lack of rainfall has slowed things considerably, with vines effectively in survival mode and ripening stalling in many places. Veraison is in the early stages, but more slowly than expected, even over the past couple of weeks here on the ground.
The vineyards themselves look in good shape. Canopies are healthy, disease pressure has been low, and while there have been a few quiet mentions of oidium, it doesn’t seem to be a major concern. There is some sunburn showing after repeated heat events, but so far it looks relatively limited and easy to manage.
The main question now is berry size. Clusters are generally loose, with small berries, and rain is needed to bolster juice levels. Growers are hoping for timely rainfall to help restart ripening and allow the berries, including the smaller “hens and chicks,” to fill out. Without that, the harvest may not end up quite as early as initially expected, despite the head start to the season.
With veraison still moving slowly, many growers are taking a brief pause before harvest intensity begins, enjoying a rare moment of calm before things accelerate. Wishing everyone a happy vacation, and looking forward to writing much more about the new releases over the next several weeks.
The photos included here are from across the whole region: from the northern stretches of the Montagne de Reims down to Largillier in the Aube.