France's wine regions record earliest harvests amid extreme heat

In the Aude department of southern France, the first grape cuts were made on 15 July in Fitou, marking the earliest start of the vendange season in the country's history. Growers across the nation—from Alsace and Champagne to Bordeaux—are preparing to harvest one to two weeks ahead of schedule, with some areas expecting the first cuts as early as the first week of August.

In the Limoux region of the Aude, officials at the Maison des Vins note that the first pruning could begin in early August, potentially setting a new record for the area. Marlène Tisseire, director of the Maison des Vins, warned that “the problem this year is the heat wave, the sun is burning a little,” and added, “today I cannot say if there is a real problem this year, but all growers face the same issues.”

Wine producers are adapting by trimming less and leaving more foliage to protect grapes from the intense heat and drought. The unusually early maturation threatens to alter the character of the wines and could affect market supplies later in the year.