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Record heatwaves in France set to make champagne stronger
Confirmed
In Short: Winemakers in France have been allowed to produce champagne with an alcohol content of up to 15%, a temporary increase from the usual 13%, due to the effects of record heatwaves, according to the Comite Champagne industry association.
Winemakers in France have been allowed to produce champagne with an alcohol content of up to 15%, a temporary increase from the usual 13%, due to the effects of record heatwaves, according to the Comite Champagne industry association. This increase is expected to affect only a small number of wines, a spokeswoman for the association told the BBC.
The Champagne region experienced its earliest-ever harvest in early August, with grape harvesting expanding by the middle of the month, marking the earliest harvest in history, according to Maxime Toubart, co-chair of the Comite Champagne. Toubart warned that hotter weather in the future could make this unusual harvest the norm in 10 to 15 years.
The 2026 vintage, marked by severe spring frosts, an exceptionally early flowering period, and five heatwaves throughout the summer, is expected to be one of the most unusual in Champagne's history. The higher-strength champagne is unlikely to be an obvious selling point, warned Jane Anson, a wine columnist and author based in Bordeaux.
The French wine industry is experiencing one of its lowest production outputs in the past three decades, severely affected by record heatwaves, prolonged summer drought, and unseasonal spring frosts, according to the French Ministry of Agriculture. The Champagne region is among the hardest-hit, with production expected to fall by 49% compared with 2025 and 47% below its five-year average.
What's confirmed
- Winemakers in France have been allowed to produce champagne with an alcohol content of up to 15%, a temporary increase from the usual 13%, due to the effects of record heatwaves, according to the Comite Champagne industry association. This increase is expected to affect only a small number of wines, a spokeswoman for the association told the BBC.
- The Champagne region experienced its earliest-ever harvest in early August, with grape harvesting expanding by the middle of the month, marking the earliest harvest in history, according to Maxime Toubart, co-chair of the Comite Champagne. Toubart warned that hotter weather in the future could make this unusual harvest the norm in 10 to 15 years.
- The 2026 vintage, marked by severe spring frosts, an exceptionally early flowering period, and five heatwaves throughout the summer, is expected to be one of the most unusual in Champagne's history. The higher-strength champagne is unlikely to be an obvious selling point, warned Jane Anson, a wine columnist and author based in Bordeaux.
- The French wine industry is experiencing one of its lowest production outputs in the past three decades, severely affected by record heatwaves, prolonged summer drought, and unseasonal spring frosts, according to the French Ministry of Agriculture. The Champagne region is among the hardest-hit, with production expected to fall by 49% compared with 2025 and 47% below its five-year average.
What's still developing
- Climate change is driving up global average temperatures, making heatwaves more frequent and intense.
- Champagne lovers may find themselves getting tipsy more quickly after French producers have been given the go-ahead to raise the alcohol content in a bottle of bubbly for the first time following this summer's record heatwave.
- During the second fermentation process, which gives champagne its bubbles, "a very small number of wines from this harvest could have slightly exceeded the regulatory limit of 13%, reaching around 13.1% or 13.2%".
- "The battle between what consumers want and what nature provides must be very stressful for producers." The 2026 vintage is unlikely to hit shelves until 2028 as champagne must age for at least 15 months.
- On the seminal luxury rap classic Otis, Kanye West prayed that “all of their pain be Champagne”.
- If you haven’t already heard, France’s Ministry of Agriculture projects overall wine output for 2026 will be down 6% from last year and 17% below the five-year average.