Record Heat Forces Winemakers in Southern France to Harvest Early

Perpignan - 05.08.2026: In the wine-growing areas of the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments, exceptional heat has brought the grape harvest forward significantly. Grapes ripened so quickly this summer that numerous estates had to reorganize their harvest operations at short notice. Early-ripening varieties are already being picked, while winemakers are monitoring the development of their remaining plots every day.Coastal sites and warm vineyards in Roussillon, as well as parts of the Corbières, have been particularly affected. Some estates had already begun harvesting in mid-July. According to industry sources, the harvest started ...