Champagne vintners rush harvest as France swelters under record heat

Champagne producers in northeast France are rushing an unusually early harvest due to record heat and drought, with June temperatures hitting around 40°C and concentrating sugars in the grapes. The accelerated ripening threatens the wine’s delicate balance, and logistics are strained by a tight labor pool and household/transport challenges. Some vintners say the pressures could force changes to traditional hand-harvesting practices as they continue to sell widely across Europe, West Africa, the United States and Asia.