9. Harvest Dates

Question 1

Give the minimal potential alcohol levels at harvest for Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Chablis AOC

Answer 1

Grand Cru - at least 11 percent
- Premiers Crus - at least 10.5 percent
AOC Chablis vineyards - at least 9.5 percent

Question 2

What is the minimal potential alcohol level for harvest for Champagne

Answer 2

• 9% however this can fluctuate based on the specific year and conditions.

Question 3

What is the maximum yeild requirements for Champagne. What happens if their is an excess?

Answer 3

It is set every year by the Comite Champagne
In 2024 it was 10,000kg per hectre
takes into considerations like market demand
any surplus must go into distillation

Question 4

In Champagne and Chablis what are the requirements as to Machine or Hand Harvest

Answer 4

Machine harvest allowed in Chablis but not in Champagne

Question 5

What is different about the Harvest times for Champagne?

Answer 5

• harvesting dates are announced by (CIVC), also known as Comité Champagne
• dates differ per village also per grape variety.
• Dates are only released days before harvest

Question 6

What is the french name for ‘harvest date’

Answer 6

(Ban des Vendanges)

Question 7

What is the name of the group that monitors ripeness of grapes in Champagne

Answer 7

Réseau Matu (ripening observation network)

Question 8

What is the role of the (ripening observation network) of Champagne

Answer 8

monitoring grape ripeness At véraison (time when grapes change color)
- twice a week, samples are picked from approximately 602 plots spread across the Champagne region
– studied to observe several points:
- The rate of color change
- The Average weight
- The estimated concentration of sugar
- The Level of acidity content
- Any potential incidence of disease infection (i.e.: botrytis)