The 2023 harvest: the culmination of a winemaking year

The 2023 vintage was particularly turbulent in French vineyards, with sometimes extremely difficult weather conditions. Loire Valley, there Champagne, L'Alsace and the Burgundy were fortunate enough to escape the ravages of downy mildew, preserving production volumes in these wine-growing regions. On the other hand, it caused significant damage in the Bordeaux regionThe same thing happened in the south of France where it coincided with the heatwave, hail and torrential rains. 

Here is a first look at the 2023 harvests in the different French wine regions. 

Bordeaux

Right Bank

On the Right Bank, the summer rainfall has created a climat conducive to the proliferation of downy mildew. All the winegrowers were present daily to limit the impact of this devastating fungus on the vines. The vineyards of the Libournais region were severely affected by downy mildew. Indeed, they are planted mainly with Merlot, a particularly early-ripening grape variety and therefore more susceptible to disease. However, thanks to the perseverance of the winegrowers, the highest quality plots were saved. It is clear that sorting the harvest is crucial for the quality of the wines produced. The Château ValandraudFor example, 3 levels of sorting have been implemented: one at harvest time, another on a sorting table and finally, a last one using a density-based basin.

François Despagne, winemaker and owner of Château Grand Corbin Despagneis very optimistic about the quality of this 2023 vintage: 

“Whether it’s the Merlot or the Cabernet Franc, the balances are magnificent. We carry out long macerations, with flexibility and delicacy, to obtain wines that reveal the freshness of the fruit as well as a beautiful density.” 

Left Bank

THE Medoc The region enjoyed an abundant harvest, with high yields during the grape harvest. After May, June and July were marked by mildew pressure, August and September were perfect.
The mild but dry month of August allowed the grapes to retain their freshness. The warm, rainless month of September completed this vintage by pushing the grapes to their full ripeness. It imparts a beautiful complexity to the juices, which are rich in color and density.

The white winemaking process is complete in the regions of Graves, Pessac-Léognan And SauternesThey offer excellent quality and freshness, enhanced by a delicately held structure, superior to that of previous years. 

The Merlot harvest began early, yielding promising vintages with deep colors. The Cabernet grapes benefited from the beautiful late summer weather. They are rich, intense, and offer a lovely aromatic profile that combines freshness and ripeness. 

Overall, in the Bordeaux vineyards in 2023, the great terroirs and the properties with the human and financial resources to be present daily in the vineyard and to sort (sometimes drastically) will make very fine wines.

Burgundy

The 2023 grape harvest in Burgundy were fruitful. The climat The year was marked by successive periods of drought, thunderstorms, and heatwaves. The grapes reached perfect ripeness, but unevenly, requiring winemakers to make multiple passes through the vineyards. For the second year in a row, yields are good, which is excellent news! This year's great Burgundy wines promise remarkable quality, delighting wine lovers worldwide.

Rhône Valley

The summer was rather hot, significantly impacting the 2023 harvest in the Southern Rhône Valley and affecting alcohol levels. Winemakers are seeking to transform these characteristics into a promising aromatic signature, opening the door to potentially more powerful wines with surprising aromas. In the Northern Rhône Valley, the vineyards of Cornas, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and their neighbors suffered severe storms and hail during the grape harvest. However, the vineyard of Côte-Rôtie He, on the other hand, was spared from this phenomenon.

Loire

Winegrowers in the Loire-Atlantique region are all smiles in 2023, with a successful harvest in terms of both volume and quality thanks to an ideal balance of sun and rain. In the Centre-Val de Loire region, which suffered particularly from vine disease pressures (notably powdery mildew and downy mildew), the 2023 harvest was more mixed but overall satisfactory.

Champagne

In 2023, the Champagne vineyards, particularly the Côte des Blancs, benefited from favorable conditions, allowing for the production of a large quantity of exceptionally high-quality grapes. Despite challenges in the Marne Valley and vigilance regarding the proliferation of certain fungi, the harvest generally went well.

Alsace

In the vast Alsatian wine region, the 2023 harvest was abundant, offering promising prospects for Alsatian wines despite the pressure of powdery mildew. Winegrowers were able to sort the grapes and select the best from this very plentiful harvest. The vineyards of northeastern France were relatively spared from adverse weather conditions, promising a high-quality 2023 vintage.

Provence

Extreme heat, hailstorms, mildew outbreaks, and drought also marked the vintage in Provence. The vines withstood these challenges, promising a satisfactory 2023 harvest for the region's AOC wines. French vineyards span 66 departments, each wine region offering its own unique characteristics from one vintage to the next. In 2023, these regions faced rather extreme weather events. Drought, heatwaves, fires, mildew, and hail affected many vineyards. As we assess the harvest, the quantity is there, and we can be pleased with the promising quality of this 2023 vintage.