July rain and drought status one month before harvest

Wednesday July 15th and Thursday July 16th finally gave some rain in measurable quantities.

Good quantities of rain almost all over Burgundy but sadly also a brutal hailstorm in the Northern Burgundy … Dijon and Marsannay. Quite some serious damage in Marsannay with destroyed vines and hopes for a good harvest. Some producers have already written of the Marsannay in 2026 … sad story.

The rain

Finally the rain came … quite ample and not just small showers here and there. It is however difficult to know if the rain is enough to restart the drought blocked vineyards – but clearly it is most likely not enough in all appellations and vineyards.

I am currently in Denmark and gathering data is a bit complex, but a good Danish friend working for Domaine Dujac was helpful with some vital data.

Not ideal perhaps … but it does the job …

The following measurements were recorded on Thursday 16th:

36 mm in NSG
33 in Vosne
28 in Chambolle
11,8 in Morey
18 in Gevrey
18,5 in Puligny and around 20 mm in Chassagne

Judged by the commentaries from Thibault Morey (Morey Coffinet), PO (Pierre-Olivier Garcia), Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre wines and Comte Armand), Aurélie Dulau (Ledy Vins) and Allie Mills of William Kelley and Allie Mills herself – this was very much needed, and clearly most likely not enough to satisfy the need of water in most appellations – we need more.

Thanks to my hard-working vigneron friends for helping and commenting … you mean a bunch to me all of you.

So not quite enough … but significant

As always there is a big variation … some had too little others whats needed … but this should in some places reset the development towards the harvest.

As always there is a big variation … some had too little others closer to whats needed … but there is a chance that this should reset the development towards the harvest – in some lucky places.

The question is – will this really unlock the blockage in the vines we have seen due to the drought and heat … moving us forward towards the harvest in one month time.

The next days will show … but areas like NSG, Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle had better luck … but the Morey and Gevrey and Côte de Beaune still are struggling with the draught.

1 month to the harvest

The rain was a needed and a good start … lets see how the next days and weeks will play out … more rain please!

And how will 2026 be … now we at least have some juice to work with

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