GRAPE HARVESTING HAS BEGUN IN CHAMPAGNE. QUALITY IS EXCELLENT AND WINE PRODUCERS HOPE FOR A VINTAGE YEAR. MEANWHILE, YIELD LOWERED 30% OVER 2008 TO KEEP STOCKS DOWN AND COUNTER PRICE DROPS.

In Champagne grapes are being cut for the French bubbly. Harvesting started about 10 days earlier this year and nature seems ready to help wine producers who have had to cope with lower sales: sunny days, cool nights and very little rain make 2009 an excellent year for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

”The high acidity and very good health status of the grapes gives hope for a vintage year”, said Dominique Moncomble, director of technical services of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC).

As we have already stated one of the most famous and appreciated wines in the world must deal with a difficult market. Therefore, they have to keep quantity under control so that the wine cellars don’t get overloaded with unsold bottles over the years. Producers and traders in Champagne, after some friction, have agreed to reduce the authorized yield to 97 quintals per hectare, which is 30% less than the 2008 harvest. This amount also includes an additional reserve, blocked at 17 quintals per hectare, leaving a “utilizable” quantity of 80 quintals.

This should allow for stocks to adjust to end of last year and beginning of this year’s reduced sales, and stop the pressure of lowering prices. Source: Jacquart & Associés Distribution (for Italy Rinaldi Brothers - Bologna)