After a meeting in Epernay on July 7, Champagne houses and growers have agreed to ask the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) an available yield for the next harvest in Champagne of 12,500 kilos of grapes per hectare.
This harvest will be an opportunity to use, for the first time, a new process of “reserve” (setting aside of a portion of the crop) in order to improve the functioning of the market between sellers and buyers of grapes, to strengthen regulation of the Champagne economy and ensure a qualitative improvement and development.
After an unseasonably severe winter and summer-like spring, the calendar of the vine is earlier than one week at bud break, three weeks at flower. The drought has so far prevented the development of pests and diseases, the clusters are in excellent health.
The combination of a large deficit of rainfall in spring, strong sunlight and an exceptionally early flowering is totally unique and has never been seen in Champagne.
Unless an important weather change occurs, the beginning of the harvest is currently expected around August 20, which would be, with the exception of 1822 the earliest harvest in the history of Champagne.
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