The harvest setting is stressful, as everyone feels the pressure of the rising alcohol levels in the vineyards and the lack of juice in the grapes.
The harvest start is record early – hence not all was/is ready … and some are presumably rushing home from holiday.
The previous harvest start record was in 2020 (and possibly also 1556) with a harvest start on August 16th. Now it is August 6th or 7th, with a premier cru Puligny harvested on August 8th – wow!!!
Some growers will start in Meursault in the middle of this week, and quite a lot have just returned from holidays this weekend – and they are currently looking at the possibility of speeding up the harvest. Given the current alcohol degrees, it is difficult to see a scenario where you try to wait until the second week of September.
It is, however, not easy to get a team assembled one week earlier than expected with this notice and in the middle of the holiday season.
The temperature will take a notch up from today (August 10th) until Sunday the 16th, with some days beyond 35 Celsius.
On Monday the 17th of August, we will see a drop to a more human 27 Celsius. Still warm …
Rain is expected Saturday 15th, Sunday the 16th, Monday the 17th and now also on Tuesday the 18th. How much rain … too early to say.
I still think the reds will presumably start out in the week of August 17th… if the current weather forecast holds. And my guess would be that quite a lot of whites will be harvested during the week starting Monday, August 17th.
The phenolic ripeness is again a theme … and this year with a twist due to the drought. More about this in these reflections about the ripening process.
Some will be forced to harvest the fast-ripening grapes as the sugar goes through the sky… and well before optimal phenolic ripeness in some cases!
Most will hope for an effect of the first rain … perhaps there is hope for the juiceless grapes after all. We all hope!!
Follow the harvest on Winehog…
Harvest time … Forecast
| Forecast date | Harvest Côte de Beaune | Harvest Côte de Nuits |
| May 18th | August 15th | August 22th |
| June 20th | August 15th | August 22th |
| July 5th | August 15th | August 22th |
| August 7th | August 12th | August 18th |
| August 9th | August 7th | August 9th – early start small plots |
| 2025 Harvest Final | August 17th | August 27th |
Weather – forecast
I will follow the weather in the harvest reports; start date August 12th – base level is Nuits-Saint-Georges,
Forecast shows increased temperatures until Sunday the 16th, but Monday the 17th we see lower temperatures … after hopefully some rain in the days 15-18th of August. This could look like a harvesting window opening on August 17th!
Yesterday’s Harvest View
Harvest articles
- Harvest 2026 – the final cut
- Harvest 2026 – a light vinification, please
- Harvest 2026 – passion and bias
- Harvest 2026 – a rising star
- Harvest 2026 – a common passion
- Harvest 2026 – the effect of rain
- Harvest 2026 – then the rain came
- Harvest 2026 – the final run
- Harvest 2026 – lower alcohol in Côte de Nuits
- Harvest 2026 – the big harvest days
- Harvest 2026 – and vin d’émotion
- Harvest 2026 – in the mood
- Harvest 2026 – lacking pickers
- Harvest 2026 – the alcohol in the room
- Harvest 2026 – avanti … Avanti!!
- Harvest 2026 – a fair bit of rain!
- Harvest 2026 – here we go … but no rain
- Harvest 2026 – Burgundy is now in harvest mode
- Harvest 2026 – possible panic is lurking
- Harvest 2026 – Friends, free and Fee
- Harvest 2026 – preparing for harvest next week
- Harvest 2026 – preparing the start
- Harvest 2026 – the harvest unfolds
- Harvest 2026 – has started
- Harvest 2026 – less than two weeks to the start
Contact – mail me a tip or a photo
Send me an email – if you have some harvest news
- A true vin d’émotion – a Burgundy of passion
- A truly hedonistic wine – lively and enjoyable
- A vivacious wine for pure indulgance
- A potential vin d´émotion - frais et léger
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