French heatwave to cut Champagne yields by 10%

France’s prolonged summer heatwave is expected to reduce grape yields across several of the country’s leading wine regions, with Champagne producers forecasting a crop around 10% smaller than last year.

Growers in Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne say weeks of hot, dry weather have slowed grape development, while younger vines have suffered damage as water reserves diminish.

Laurent Delaunay, chairman of Burgundy wine industry body BIVB, said growers were watching potential yields decline.

“We can see the potential melting away in the sun,” he said. “Growers are mainly worried about the lack of water.”

Weather forecasts indicate little or no rainfall across France’s principal wine regions before mid-July, extending dry conditions that have already persisted for more than three weeks in many areas.

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