The 2025 Champagne harvest has wrapped up, and producers across the region are calling it the best in three decades.
Although yields remain modest, the quality of the grapes is being hailed as exceptional by winemakers, viticultural experts, and the Comité Champagne (CIVC).
An Early and Rapid Harvest
Picking began on August 20, the earliest start on record. A mix of steady July rains followed by an early August heatwave accelerated grape ripening. The CIVC, which oversees production standards and harvest dates, initially anticipated a later start, but official picking dates were released as harvest was already underway.
By mid-August, potential alcohol levels averaged 9.2% across grape varieties. Within a week, this rose to 10.1%, prompting the CIVC’s technical teams to advise patience until phenolic ripeness was achieved—where sugar levels align with tannin maturity and flavor concentration. They recommended minimum levels of 10% for Meunier, 10.5% for Pinot Noir, and 11.5% for Chardonnay.
A “Formula One” Vintage
The need to balance patience with urgency shaped how estates approached picking. At Champagne Roederer, Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon described 2025 as a “Formula One” vintage, marked by speed and intensity. Roederer expanded its teams and operated pressing facilities around the clock to handle the surge of ripe fruit.
Others, like Champagne Vincent Cuillier, took a slower, more vineyard-focused approach. Cuillier harvested single plots over two weeks, ensuring optimal ripeness for his single-vineyard cuvées. Both methods highlight the year’s unique dynamic: the luxury of waiting, quickly followed by the pressure to act.
Weather Challenges and Advantages
The harvest was not without risks. Sudden downpours during picking threatened bunches with berry breakage, yet cool conditions kept rot in check. According to Sébastien Dubuisson, CIVC’s Quality and Sustainability Director, the balance of sugar and acidity this year is “ideal,” with juices showing freshness, elegance, and strong varietal expression.
Quality Praised Across Producers
Producers are unanimous in their praise. Eric Rodez called 2025 “a rare truly great vintage,” possibly the finest he has seen in thirty years. Michel Drappier of Champagne Drappier expressed surprise at the strength of Pinot Noir after the devastating 2024 season, while Cedric Moussé praised his Meunier as “delicate, juicy and marked by great minerality.”
Yields: Low but Sufficient
Despite its promise, the vintage follows two years of reduced yields. Average yields are projected between 9,000 and 10,000 kg/ha, just enough to meet the region’s commercial target. Sub-regional differences are sharp: Côte des Bar and parts of Montagne de Reims performed well, while Côte des Blancs and eastern zones lagged due to cold weather at flowering.
Chardonnay was particularly affected, producing smaller bunches and less juice. Pinot Noir, however, rebounded strongly, and Meunier showed exceptional quality where ripening conditions were favorable.
Outlook for the 2025 Vintage
The consensus among growers is clear: 2025 will stand as one of Champagne’s legendary vintages. With its rare combination of concentration, freshness, and balance, it promises wines of exceptional finesse and longevity. While quantities may be limited, connoisseurs and collectors can expect extraordinary bottles from this harvest.
Source: Vinetur