Bourgogne: Early harvest starts with a new record

The harvest in Burgundy started on August 8, 2026, setting a new record for earliness. This early start is primarily attributed to successive heatwaves that have affected grape growth. According to Franceinfo, these climatic conditions have led to reduced yields for winemakers, as drought has limited grape development.

The previous record was set in 2022, with the harvest beginning on August 13. The current harvest mainly concerns crémants. The harvest for white wines is expected to quietly begin around August 18 and for reds around August 20, as reported by Le Temps.

Elsewhere in France, the harvest has also shown historic earliness. In Champagne, it began as early as the Thursday before, and in Bordeaux, a start was observed for crémants. Additionally, Languedoc-Roussillon started its harvest back in July, according to Le Figaro.

This trend towards earliness could have varied implications for French viticulture, although winemakers are adapting to the new climatic realities.