Start of the grape harvest
Harvesting in France typically takes place from the end of August to October, but it can vary depending on the grape variety, the climate of the region, the hillsides or plains on which the grapes grow, the type of wine desired and the exposure to the sun that helps the grapes ripen, and can last for more than a month when conditions allow.
The weather is a CAPITAL factor not only in determining harvest dates, but also in determining the length of the harvest. Some weather episodes can be life-saving, while others can ruin the harvest, as we saw this year.
Grapes for dry white wines and red wines are harvested at roughly the same time, depending on the region. Grapes for late harvest wines are picked in October, after a long ripening period in the sun to increase their sweetness.Grapes for vins liquoreux made from noble grape selections are picked, grape by grape, once noble rot has set in, in successive sortings in early autumn, while ice wines are made from frozen berries picked at night, in the dead of winter.
Grape maturity
Harvesting begins as soon as the grapes have reached satisfactory sugar levels. This ensures a good balance with the other components, notably acids.
A refractometer is used to measure the right sugar content of the grapes, but some winemakers rely on their experience by analyzing the color of the skins and tasting the logs, to determine the balance between acidity and sweetness, and to bite into the pips to see if their essence is right.
Hand or machine harvesting
The dates for the start of the 2021 harvest by commune and by grape variety were released a few days ago, and can be found here : All the dates for the 2021 harvest
Harvesting remains traditional in Champagne, as the constraints for respecting the grapes are the same as in the 18th century. The harvest period lasts about 3 weeks. This is due to the very short period of optimal grape ripeness. What's more, the different Champagne grape varieties ripen almost simultaneously. On average, there are 120,000 grape-pickers throughout the country. Nearly 100,000 seasonal workers are housed and fed by winegrowers and wineries every year. The teams of grape-pickers are called "hordons".
Green and late harvests
Green harvesting takes place before the traditional harvest and, by cutting off some of the bunches on the vine, concentrates the aromas of those that remain. In this way, quantity is reduced to enhance quality.
Late harvests take place later than conventional harvests, resulting in grapes that are said to be "overripe", i.e. with higher sugar levels and therefore greater alcoholic potential. Late harvests are particularly suitable for producing sweet, mellow or syrupy wines.
The 2021 vintage?
It's still too early to determine the precise impact on the 2021 vintage. The Grands Crus will certainly be able to endure the consequences of low production for the 2021 vintage, given their solidity and renown, but the situation will be more complicated for small estates and independent winegrowers. The government has announced the activation of the "calamité agricole" scheme, and is launching an action plan to provide financial support to the industry in the coming months.
In any case, the 2021 harvest will have a lower yield than in the last two years. Today, we know that a large part of the yield from the 2021 harvest will not be made up of "fresh" grapes, i.e. the grapes of the year, but of wines from individual reserves.
