Champagne has already begun harvesting, ahead of the official starting dates

ot all Champagne winegrowers waited for the region’s wine marketing board CIVC to publish the official dates for the start of this year’s grape harvest on August 20. After seeing that sugar levels in their grapes were increasing whilst acidity was dropping, growers in Montgueux (Aube) were given special permission by the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) to start harvesting the day before. Vincent Faihy is not surprised: “This village often kicks off harvesting with Chardonnay. Elsewhere, picking is due to start nearer to August 25 or 26”, comments the technical director of the Viti-concept consultancy.

2025 therefore aligns with 2011 as the third earliest harvest in the 21st century, after 2020 – when picking began on August 17 – and 2003, when it started on August 18.

In many vineyards, however, there is no rush. “Just like in 2020 and 2011, there is a difference between technological and aromatic ripeness levels. At the moment, the grapes still taste quite acidic. The fruity aromas will be more noticeable starting at the beginning of next week with potential alcohol by volume reaching 10.5 or 11”, adds Faihy, who is advising winegrowers to be patient to avoid producing vegetal wines.

The vines are very healthy, which makes waiting all the easier – there is no downy mildew at all and few occurrences of powdery mildew. “Currently, only 2 to 3% of clusters are showing any signs of rot. And as the vines do not need water, except for a few clayey soils, rain forecast for next week is unlikely to dilute or burst the berries”.