Early 2026 Champagne Harvest in the Côte des Blancs

2026 Harvest: A Champagne Harvest Marked by Warm Weather

Every year, the Champagne harvest is a particularly important moment in the life of the Champagne vineyards. It marks both the culmination of a year’s work in the vines and the beginning of a new stage: the one that will eventually give birth to future Champagnes. In the Champagne region, the harvest date is determined according to the ripeness of the grapes and the balance between their sugar content and acidity. Careful monitoring of grape maturity makes it possible to adapt the harvest schedule to each village and grape variety.

The Champagne harvest also has an essential characteristic: grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. The bunches must be picked whole and transported quickly to the press in order to preserve their quality as much as possible. Harvest time is therefore a true team effort, with every step carefully organised, from the vineyard to the pressing.

The 2026 Harvest at Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux

At Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux, the 2026 harvest was particularly eventful. Originally scheduled to begin between August 20 and 25, we ultimately started harvesting as early as August 17, as the grapes were reaching maturity much faster than expected.

This year, high temperatures had a noticeable impact on our vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. Our Chardonnay grapes, mainly from Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs plots, were less juicy but much more concentrated in sugar. These conditions required us to be highly adaptable in order to harvest our grapes at the right moment and preserve their full potential for our future Blanc de Blancs Champagnes.

A Great Team for a Successful Harvest

To cope with this unexpectedly early start, the whole team came together to ensure that the grapes could be harvested and pressed as quickly as possible.

But the Champagne harvest is not only an intense period of work. It is also a time for sharing, reconnecting and enjoying a great atmosphere. In the vineyards of Cramant and the Côte des Blancs, the days are filled with conversations, smiles, well-deserved breaks and the satisfaction of finally seeing the fruits of a year’s work being harvested.

A huge thank you to our entire team for their energy, efficiency and good humour throughout the 2026 harvest. We are already looking forward to seeing you again for the 2027 harvest and sharing once again this very special moment in the life of Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux!

2026 Trellising in the Côte des Blancs

The 2026 trellising season has been completed at Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux in Cramant. Discover this essential stage in our 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru vineyard, located in the heart of the Côte des Blancs.

 

Trellising is an essential step in vineyard work in Champagne. At Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux, this operation was completed on June 10th, 2026, marking an important milestone in the growing season of our vineyards located in the heart of the Côte des Blancs.

This year, the season started particularly early. Thanks to favourable weather conditions, vine growth accelerated rapidly from the beginning of May. The vineyard developed faster than usual, requiring us to begin trellising earlier than expected in order to properly support the vines throughout their growth cycle.

What is trellising in Champagne?

Trellising consists of lifting and positioning the vine shoots between the wires installed along each row. This technique helps organise the vegetation vertically and evenly, encouraging healthy vine development right through to harvest.

In Champagne, trellising plays a crucial role for several reasons. First, it improves leaf exposure to sunlight, optimising photosynthesis and grape ripening. It also enhances air circulation within the canopy, helping to reduce the risk of humidity-related diseases. Finally, it facilitates the movement of workers and machinery through the vineyard while protecting the shoots from wind damage.

This operation requires precision and close attention, as each vineyard plot develops at its own pace. Trellising carried out at the right moment contributes directly to the quality of the upcoming harvest.

An exceptional vineyard in the Côte des Blancs

Our estate is located in the prestigious Côte des Blancs, a terroir renowned worldwide for the excellence of its Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards of Champagne Gaspard-Crépaux are planted exclusively with Chardonnay, the emblematic grape variety of this celebrated area of Champagne.

Our plots benefit from the Grand Cru classification, a distinction that reflects the exceptional quality of the chalk-rich soils and ideal growing conditions. It is from this unique terroir that our Blanc de Blancs Champagnes are born, renowned for their finesse, elegance and freshness.

Trellising: a team effort!

Trellising is also about sharing great moments in the vineyard. Between the rows of Chardonnay, work is always more enjoyable when carried out in a positive atmosphere, with plenty of camaraderie and a few laughs along the way. A huge thank you to the entire team for their enthusiasm, dedication and energy throughout this important period. Thanks to their team spirit, this essential stage was completed under the best possible conditions.

Looking ahead to the 2026 harvest

With trellising now complete, the vines can continue developing under optimal conditions. In the coming weeks, our attention will focus on monitoring grape ripeness to ensure the best possible harvest.

If weather conditions remain favourable, harvesting could begin as early as the end of August 2026, confirming the early season observed since spring.

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