Heat, drought, moisture, downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey rot, hail… The winegrowers in France have not lacked challenges in 2023. Now the harvest is finished and despite difficulties the result is excellent.
In Burgundy, everyone is happy. After several very small harvests, many producers are lacking wines to sell. 2023 offered both quality and a very much needed quantity. However, there were still problems. High temperatures caused problems for those who did not preserve enough foliage to provide shade for the grapes.
In Bordeaux, there have been some losses in volume due to severe mildiou attacks, especially on merlot. However, there is a general satisfaction with the quality.
Champagne managed both quality and quantity this year. The Chassenay d’Arce cooperative in Aube in southern Champagne reports of an abundance of grapes and a harvest at record speed because all the grape varieties ripened at the same time. The bunches were also unusually heavy with an average weight of almost 219 grams compared to 130 grams in previous years.
Travel: Join us at BKWine on a tour to experience the Bordeaux and Champagne harvest in 2024.
