Ten to thirty percent more sunshine compared to the ten-year average. And in the vines, voluminous bunches in perfect sanitary condition. The 2022 harvest has kept all its promises in Champagne. “All the cursors are green, recognizes Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat général des Vignerons. Even this unequaled sunshine did not hurt the vines because our chalky soil retains the humidity”.
The last grapes were picked last week from the vineyard and fermentation is now underway. The 2022 Champagne harvest has just ended on September 23. It had started around August 20 for the earliest vintages.
With a sugar level of 10.5% and a yield set at 12,000 kg/ha, this year promises to be exceptional in every respect. The opportunity for winegrowers to compensate for the losses of last year. “We are coming out of two very complicated years. In 2020, we harvested what we planned to sell in the context of the health crisis. And in 2021, we had a lot of water and a small harvest. Many winegrowers have massively emptied their reserve of blocked wines, they will be able to replenish it,” rejoices Maxime Toubart.
A year worthy of a vintage
And in the end, the maximum yield is set at 16,500 kg/ha, storage included. A modification made last August which is justified by the exceptional quality of the grapes. “Out of the 319 municipalities, there are always certain sectors that are suffering. But this year it was beautiful everywhere, all the grapes were healthy. It would have been a shame to deprive ourselves of this part of the reserve because it is insurance for all winegrowers”.
David Chatillon, president of the Union of Champagne Houses, shares this analysis by describing the 2022 harvest as “providential”. And he also predicts a bright future for this harvest: “The beautiful grapes harvested this year will become great wines that will meet consumer expectations,” he explains.
The perfect scenario for a vintage, champagne resulting from a blend of wines from a single year (unlike brut, extra-brut, demi-sec, rosé etc.)? It is still too early to say, however Maxime Toubart recalls: “Everyone can choose whether or not they decide to vintage. In this case, it’s 100% of the year in the bottle, but it would be surprising if we didn’t vintage given the quality of the harvest”.