Champagne harvest: Region anticipates ‘outstanding quality’ despite drastic yield drop
Trade body Comité Champagne (or CIVC) has detailed its assessment of the grape harvest in the famous region.
Despite what could amount to a forecasted 49% drop in wine output compared to 2025 (according to the French government’s agricultural statistics agency Agreste) and “exceptional climate conditions”, the Comité believes those grapes that are to be harvested are of “outstanding quality”.
As quoted by Reuters, technical director of CIVC Sebastien Debuisson said “the fact that the quality is there makes the lacklustre yield a bit easier to swallow”.
It is worth noting that the 49% drop predicted by Agreste could differ from the final production statistics. This is partly because champagne producers could draw on a greater proportion of reserve wines for their output.
The drastic drop in anticipated production fits into a wider harvest landscape for France, with Reuters detailing that overall wine production set to be at one of the lowest levels in 30 years. If Agreste’s predicted yields level holds true, total French wine production will stand at 33,864,000 hls – a drop compared to 2025’s 37,397,000 hls and 2024’s 36,236,000 hls.
Focusing in on Champagne’s growing season, the CIVC explained that it included severe spring frosts, very early flowering, and five heatwaves throughout the summer.
The traditional harvest ban was set for 12 August, though in some exceptional circumstances some producers had to harvest as early as 6 August including Vincent Finot from Montgueux.
The Comité detailed that widespread harvesting took place from 17 August, around 2 weeks earlier than in 2025.
Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne and co-president of the Comité Champagne, reflected: “The 2026 growing season will be remembered as an atypical year that profoundly challenged our usual benchmarks. Growers had to adapt their vineyard practices throughout the season.
“Their responsiveness and ability to adapt were decisive in overcoming the challenges of this extraordinary harvest.”
President of the Union des Maisons de Champagne and co-president of the Comité Champagne David Chatillon added that “thanks to the mobilisation of the entire Champagne sector, we successfully brought in this exceptionally early harvest under very good conditions, with remarkable quality”.
On this quality he added: “The fruit is beautiful, healthy and ripe.”
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