The harvest in Champagne has begun on 6th September 2021 and will last until 27th September. The maximum yield for this year is capped at 10,000 kg/hectare, which corresponds to about 300 million bottles.
The 2021 picking start dates by town and by grape variety have been released by C.I.V.C – Comitée Interprofessionel Vin de Champagne. Opening dates of the 2021 harvest – read more.
According to the Comité Champagne, the maturation of the grapes is particularly heterogeneous from vineyard to vineyard. This will require careful and precise (manual) picking.
THE 2021 CHAMPAGNE VINTAGE
The 2021 vintage was marked by tough climatic conditions, with a frost at the start of the year that lasted 12 days, a few episodes of hail, then repeated rains since spring which favored mildew. These hazards have produced great disparity in yield and maturity of the grapes from one plot and/or grape variety to another.
Overall, the vine-growers have suffered a yield loss of nearly 30% this year due to frost, plus 25 to 30% loss due to mildew. As for the hailstorms, they affected 500 hectares, half of which were completely destroyed.
For Maxime Toubart, co-president of the Champagne Committee, “The differences in maturation in the vineyard will require flexible harvesting adapted to each sector.”
However, the Comité Champagne stresses that the exceptional climatic conditions will affect the quantity of grapes but not their quality.
“The people of Champagne are used to working in difficult conditions,” recalls Jean-Marie Barillère, co-president of the Champagne Committee, “and are proud to make this great wine-champagne-every year.”
