Champagne grape clusters weigh in at a record 220 grams

ines in Champagne are showing off some incredible fruit at the start of the 2023 harvest. According to the Champagne wine marketing board CIVC, an average weight of 220 grams was recorded on August 31, an all-time record. This is higher than the previous record of 175g in 2005 and it will have an impact on yields. Estimates have not been revised upwards but expected crop yields stood at between 15,000 and 17,000 kg/hectare at the end of July, which is when the authorised yield for AOC Champagne was set at 11,400 kg/ha by the executive board of the CIVC. The amount takes into account the current slow-down in the market and headwinds caused by inflation. The current sales target is 315 million bottles over twelve months.

Considering the amount of grapes due to be harvested this vintage, the individual reserve is likely to be turned to good account by industry members. Its cap has just been raised to 10,000 kg/ha but up to a maximum yield of 15,500 kg/ha. Therefore, the amount that can potentially be set aside this year is 4,400 kg/ha.

Harvesting began in the earliest-ripening areas on September 2, marking the end of a stress-free vintage right through to the middle of summer. After a smooth start to the season, “the weather in August was more chaotic. It was hot and abnormally humid, promoting outbreaks of botrytis”. However, “the many generous clusters will allow growers to only select those that are perfectly healthy”, stated the chairman of the Champagne growers’ organisation and co-chairman of the CIVC, Maxime Toubart, in a press release. “Considering the amount of fruit on the vines, even if they sort the grapes and only select the finest, everyone should be able to reach yields set at 11,400 kg/ha effortlessly”, adds David Chatillon, chairman of the Champagne house organisation and co-chairman of the CIVC.