It is an early harvest in Champagne, but no records were broken. Following the traditional setting of the harvest date for each city and town, the official calendar was published on Wednesday, August 20. While winegrowers in Montgueux were permitted to begin harvesting grapes on August 19, most of their counterparts in the region were scheduled to start between August 25 and 28, with the latest beginning on September 4.

"In my vineyard, the harvest will start on September 1 and last five or six days," said Maxime Toubart, president of the General Union of Champagne Winegrowers, based in Le Breuil. He highlighted the fact that, for the third time in about a decade, the harvest in this northern wine region was beginning in August. The record for the earliest harvest was set in 2020, when picking began on August 17 – a clear sign of climate change. "The vine's growth cycle is shorter," Toubart said.

Nevertheless, given the state of the vines, spirits were high. "We haven't experienced any weather disasters or disease, and the quality of the grapes is superb," said Pierre-Henri Torchet, an organic vineyard owner. On Thursday, August 21, the 35 grape pickers hired for the occasion began cutting grapes at the family estate in Villenauxe-la-Grande.

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