French winemakers cheer a vintage 2018, as hot summer follows wet spring and harvest starts early
Weather conditions have been ideal for French winegrowers this year after a disastrous 2017, with most regions reporting bigger, better crops than in the past five years and winemakers crossing their fingers final ripening of grapes is optimal
The near perfect combination of a wet spring followed by a long hot summer has left French winemakers rubbing their hands with glee.
The earliest harvest in 15 years is already in full swing in the Champagne region, with the first grapes picked in equally northerly Alsace on Tuesday, two weeks ahead of schedule.
With global sales of champagne alone likely to pass €5 billion (US$5.8 billion) this year, a government expert predicts the overall French harvest could be up by as much a quarter.
And with the quality of the grapes said to be high, a truly vintage year to match 2009 could be in the offing.
All the wine-producing areas of the country except Corsica, Languedoc-Roussillon and the Riviera coast have reported more and better grapes compared to the last five years.