The first picks of the 2026 vintage began on August 11, for example at Champagne House Gautherot in Celles-sur-Ource in the Côte des Bars. This has never happened in Champagne before. We explain why.
Champagne 2026: exceptional vintage
The year 2026 is considered exceptional, characterized by very early ripening and extreme weather conditions. Some key figures according to the "Comité Champagne":
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68 days – exceptionally fast flowering-to-harvest phase
In 2026, there were only 68 days between flowering and harvest, instead of the usual 86 days. Budbreak also started early (March 23 instead of April 2-13) and flowering already on May 30 instead of June 11. The entire vegetation period was thus significantly faster than in all previous years.
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29.25 °C – warmest July since records began
With an average of 29.25 °C, July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in Champagne – about 1.5 °C above the previous record of 2020. Over 30 °C were reached on 40 days, and even 41.7 °C in Glannes and 41.3 °C in Ricey – new highs (previous record: 37.3 °C, 1976/2006). According to Sébastien Debuisson (Comité Champagne), this type of heatwave is increasingly becoming the norm.
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100 % – exceptionally sunny
The total sunshine duration was slightly above average, but significantly so in July with over 350 hours – almost the technical maximum (average: approx. 250 hours). According to Debuisson, this high radiation explains the rapid growth and early ripening of the vines. However, water was lacking, especially for younger vines – a point that underlines the Comité Champagne's concern about the increasing average age of the vineyards (35 years, 2023), as older vines root deeper and have better access to water reserves.
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38 % – second worst frost vintage since 1991
The 2026 vintage is one of the years with the most severe frost damage to vine buds ever recorded in Champagne – only 1991 was even more devastating. Around 38% of the buds were destroyed by frost events, especially on the nights of April 2-3. The growing areas of Vallée de la Marne (65% damage), Côte des Bar (55%) as well as Massif de Saint-Thierry, Perthois and Petit Morin (around 30% each) suffered the most. Newly planted vines were particularly susceptible to frost damage.
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20 mm– very dry February and July
February 2026 was significantly drier than usual with only 50 mm of precipitation (average: 78-80 mm), while January was unusually wet with 110 mm. From January to June, total precipitation was slightly below average. In July, only around 20 mm fell instead of the usual 62 mm.
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321 mm – record evapotranspiration
In July 2026, a record of 321 mm was reached for soil and plant evaporation (previous comparative values: 282 mm in 2022, 268 mm in 2006/2018). According to Debuisson, it rained frequently, but always in too small quantities (5-10 mm per event) – the soils remained dry nevertheless. Around 50 mm more precipitation would have been needed to avoid average drought.
According to Sébastien Debuisson (Quality and Environment Director at CIVC), the vintage shows a combination of drought, heat and localized frost damage – a pattern that experts believe could occur more frequently in the future.
Source: L'Union / Article by Maxime Mascoli - Figures Comité Champagne (CIVC)
Does the heatwave affect grape quality?
August 20 has now arrived, but the harvest in the Champagne region is already well advanced – in some cases even completed. This early ripening, caused by unprecedented climatic conditions, has not only disrupted the usual logistics, but also affected grape quality.
Very heterogeneous grapes have formed: normally sized berries are right next to very small ones. The quality of the Champagne is therefore not necessarily jeopardized – but the harvest quantity is: the grapes are lighter and yield less juice. The exact extent will only become apparent during pressing.
