In Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, in the Marne, the grape harvesters at Clos des Goisses work almost vertically. On this Champagne hillside, the slope reaches 45 degrees and the heat is already taking its toll. On August 15, 2026, the cup begins earlier than ever, under a heatwave that invades the heart of the ranks.
Throughout the region, the harvest remains the highlight of the year: for two to three weeks, nearly 120,000 people take turns in the vineyards. The MATU network, for , monitors 600 control plots, explains the Champagne.fr website, in order to launch this entirely manual harvest at the right time.
Clos des Goisses: acrobatic harvest
On these slopes, no tractor can travel; the carriers lower the buckets by hand or with a small chaser. Pinot noir occupies the steepest ranks, chardonnay the slightly less inclined areas. , underlines Charles Philipponnat, director of the house, to France 3.
Added to this acrobatics is the weather. Placed on orange alert, the department imposes tight schedules: teams go up from 7 a.m. and must stop pruning. , notes Teddy Gérard, vineyard and supply manager, for whom this precocity reflects repeated episodes of heat.
Champagne 2026: heat and low yields
The clusters are smaller than expected: the average diameter of the berries drops by around 30%, which limits volumes. Teddy Gérard is counting on a yield of 6,000 to 7,000 kilos, compared to 8,000 to 9,000 last year, while the Champagne Committee and the INAO regulate the yields. , he regrets.
For the team, the year combines spring frost, heat waves and heat waves. , summarizes Charles Philipponnat. Some leaves curl, a sign of water stress, but chalky soils retain enough moisture to help the vines stay green.
Seasonal grape pickers: conditions and controls
At the same time, the authorities monitor the living conditions of seasonal workers. In Damery, in Marne, the prefect ordered the closure of an accommodation site judged for grape pickers, citing an undeclared location, one and one, specifies the prefecture in a press release cited by Le Parisien.
These shortcomings were revealed during a , and an investigation was opened. This closure is part of reinforced controls, after those of 2023 which resulted in prison sentences for several employers.
When do the 2026 harvests start in Champagne?
At Clos des Goisses, August 15.
Why are 2026 yields lower?
Smaller berries, frost and heatwave combined.
What protections for seasonal harvesters?
Timetables adapted to heat waves and accommodation checks.
