The first blows of the pruning shears were given Tuesday in the Bordeaux vineyard on the dry whites, even before the harvest of the crémants which, traditionally, open the ball.
This is the “earliest” harvest ever experienced in the region, due to the heat wave and the drought.
➡️ The 2022 #harvest, which has already started, promises to be particularly early, placed under the sign of a historic #drought which could affect the potential of a promising vintage.
#wine https://t.co/kBwwD9rnCb
– La Revue du vin de France (@LaRVF_mag) August 11, 2022
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“In 2003, it was August 18, in 2020 the 17, reports Jacques Lurton, president of the Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux appellation union.
There, we could even have started them yesterday, Monday, or last week.
This is due to an exceptional climatology, the cycle of the vine accelerated beyond what we knew.
»
“The vine has suffered, but not to the point of withering away”
In Bordeaux, as in many French wine-growing areas, the high temperatures of June, July and August accelerated the ripening of the grapes, forcing winegrowers to bring the harvest forward by several days, even several weeks.
"This is when the aromatic peak of Sauvignon is at its highest, the ideal time to harvest," adds Jacques Lurton.
To these scorching heat was added an “unprecedented drought in Gironde”, underlines the boss of Pessac-Léognan.
Fortunately, “the vine held up.
She suffered, but not to the point of wasting away.
»
In the region, three appellations - Pessac-Léognan, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion - had this summer obtained the authorization to irrigate their young vines, in bad shape due to the extreme climatic conditions.
Harvest on September 1 for the reds?
As for Bordeaux crémants, which traditionally kick off the harvest, nearly 400 pickers are hard at work to start Wednesday at the producer Bordeaux Families for three weeks of harvest.
"Despite the high temperatures recorded in recent weeks, the 2022 vintage will seduce its consumers, with a cuvée of great maturity, while maintaining good acidity", declared the group made up of the Bordeaux cellars Louis Vallon and Sauveterre-Blasimon- Espiet.
“For the reds, I see the start of the harvest on September 1.
But we have to see how things will evolve after the rains last weekend,” said Jacques Lurton.
Planet
Drought: The 2022 harvest brought forward by one to three weeks depending on the region in France
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