Heatwaves push Champagne’s alcohol cap higher for this year

France’s Champagne region will temporarily raise the allowed alcohol content on some bottles to 15% ABV after record heat produced higher grape sugars, affecting only a small share of this year’s harvest (roughly 13.1–13.2% ABV). The 2026 harvest was the earliest on record and climate change is expected to make hotter seasons more common in 10–15 years, with the affected wines heading to shelves no earlier than 2028 after aging.