2020 harvest
The authorized yield for 2020 has been reduced by 20% compared to the previous year. Each Champagne vine can only be harvested at 8,000 kg of fruit per hectare, equivalent to 230 million bottles produced.By way of comparison, in 2019, the yield was set at 10,200 kilos per hectare.The surplus grapes on the vines will therefore be...lost! Each year, this basic yield can be lowered or increased by the I.N.A.O. (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité) depending on the quality, sales and volume of the harvest.
Fortunately, the quality of the grapes is good. The vineyards benefited from an exceptionally warm, dry spring, and according to the Comité Champagne, as in 2019, "Sanitary conditions are very good, except in a few sectors affected by powdery mildew. Acidity is good. We're heading for a fine 2020harvest ". Maison Louis Roederer cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon notes that"It's very healthy, despite the appearance of powdery mildew, 'THE' disease of the year. Rigorous sorting will be necessary. But all the same, thirty years on, we find ourselves faced with the phenomenon of the trilogy of superb vintages in 1988, 1989 and 1990. 2018, 2019 and 2020 are a succession of 'hot' years that will enable us to harvest the good and the beautiful." Present in the vineyard, a fervent advocate of precision viticulture, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon is one of the leading observers when it comes to analyzing a vintage.
Good news in a complicated context. The health crisis is forcing some 100,000 seasonal workers from all over France, and half from abroad, to respect certain strict rules. Harvesters must wear masks when grouped together, take their temperature every morning and disinfect their hands regularly. Not easy in the sweltering heat of harvest days.
In Champagne, harvesting generally lasts three weeks.The reason for this is that the grapes have very little time for optimum ripening, and the different Champagne grape varieties ripen almost simultaneously.Harvesting has been carried out by hand in the traditional way since the 18th century.
For those who are curious, a short film was produced in early 2019 by the Comité Champagne, to tell you all about the Champagne harvest -->"Harvesting and pressing in Champagne".
On average, the 2020 harvest won't be in our glasses until 2023 ....Be patient!
