Climate change accelerates wine harvests across France

Climate change is significantly altering grape harvest timelines across France. In Burgundy, the harvest for Crémant sparkling wines began as early as August 8, driven by intense heat and drought. While winemakers initially expected harvests before August 15, heatwaves have actually slowed grape maturation and inhibited growth, pushing the expected date for other wines toward August 25.

In the Alpes-Maritimes region, producers at Château de Bellet and Domaine de Vinceline report that successive heatwaves and lack of rain are forcing earlier harvests to maintain the balance between sugar, acidity, and tannins. Some growers note that harvests are now occurring nearly three weeks earlier than they did in 2003.

A study published in ‘Climate of the Past’ by historian Thomas Labbé, analyzing 700 years of harvest data in Beaune, highlights an ‘explosion’ of extreme heat years. The research shows that between 1354 and 1719, extreme heat occurred every 17 years on average. Since 1988, this frequency has increased to once every five years, and since the beginning of the 21st century, extreme years have occurred approximately every two and a half years.