Crémants kick off the harvest in Bordeaux

he first harvest shears could be heard in the vineyards of Bordeaux on August 22, marking the start of the region’s 2024 grape harvest. The first fruit to be picked will be used to produce Crémant. The appellation’s leading producer, Bordeaux Families, will be taking Sauvignon, Sémillon, Merlot and Cabernet grapes from 650 hectares of vineyards to its winery in Saint Pey de Castets for three weeks to produce its Louis Vallon-branded Crémants.

“The cool, damp spring delayed ripening and this year we have returned to more normal dates for the start of harvesting. The first grapes picked have an ABV of between 8.5 and 9%. They have retained high acidity and will provide us with reserve wines for the rest of the vintage”, comments Philippe Cazaux, managing director of Bordeaux Families, who is very optimistic about quality based on the forecast for good weather over the next ten days.

Quantity, however, is likely to once again disappoint. “Despite very high pressure, our grape growers were able to rein in mildew but they experienced a lot of shatter and shot berries. Every year something happens. We are no longer able to produce normal volumes”, laments Cazaux who will soon be able to assess yields, once the first pressings are over.

At Bordeaux Families, grapes used to produce still wines should enter the winery starting on September 5, or perhaps later. “Again, I have no doubts about quality because the vines did not suffer from water stress, but I am very worried about yields. At the moment, it is really not easy to be a winegrower”, he concludes.