This is a welcome alignment of planets for champagne professionals whose vintages were greatly affected by weather conditions in 2021. The grapes, which ripen two to three weeks earlier this summer, herald exceptional vintages for 2022. And this, despite the high temperatures, as well as the unprecedented drought, which have hit the territory in recent months.
These extreme weather conditions even played in favor of the crops. “The fact of having a dry climate allowed us to have a relatively easy job in the vineyard, in particular for the part of protection against diseases,” said Benoît Velut, winegrower from Montgueux (Aube), told the BFMTV antenna.
“A favorable climate for the good development of the vine”
The latter described this very hot climate as “quite favorable to the good development of the vine without parasites”. “Otherwise, maturation was quite good in soils that were able to store water,” he added. “This is not the case in all parts of champagne”, clarifies the oenologist, underlining “very critical situations in the face of very significant episodes of drought”. The presence of chalk in the soils of the region notably helps to conserve moisture.
The quality, the quantity… The sugar content of the bunches measured with a refractometer is already giving good results. These rates reach between 8.5 and 9.5° in some places.
Reserves to replenish
This vintage, which professionals expect to be exceptional, comes after two eventful years for the champagne industry. In 2020, sales fell 18% compared to 2019 and represented 245 million bottles. The following year, shipments had recovered nicely, rising 32%. A total of 322 million bottles had been sold that year, according to figures from the Champagne Committee.
However, weather conditions in 2021 had reduced the annual harvest by almost 50%. The producers had thus largely depleted their “reserve” made up of wines from previous years. Stocks that could be at least partially replenished thanks to the 2022 harvest. The Champagne Committee has set the harvest yield at 12,000 kilos per hectare, its highest level in fifteen years.
An excellent performance that could be accompanied by exceptional sales. In the first half of 2022, close to 130 million bottles have already been shipped, according to the Champagne Committee. On July 20, 2022, the professional organization expected the sale of 325 million bottles throughout the year.
Source: BFM TV
