In Champagne, the permitted harvest for 2024 has now been determined. It is estimated that the harvest will begin around September 12. The determined harvest output has been set at 10,000 kilos per hectare (ca 64 hl/ha), slightly lower than last year’s 11,400 kg (ca 73 hl/ha).
Sales figures have been pointing downwards 2023 and in recent months, and the Champagne people prefer to be cautious in their forecast. Regulating how much volume is harvested is a way to ensure that Champagne does not produce too much, as this could decrease prices.
Perhaps the growers would not have been able to harvest more even if they had been allowed. It has been a complicated growing season so far in Champagne (and many other places in France). Since the beginning of the year, it has rained a lot. It has been wet and cool, with a significant lack of sunshine and severe attacks of fungal diseases such as downy mildew. Growers have kept the diseases under control with some difficulty. The frost in the spring and some hail storms have also affected the harvest potential a little, but not too much.
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