It’s that time of year again! Les Vendanges has arrived earlier than usual in Burgundy and most are celebrating the perfect late season weather. The vines suffered through an early summer heat wave but rains in late summer have improved the outlook of the vintage dramatically. The smaller grapes mean volume may be slightly down compared to last year but should provide an improvement in quality. There is good reason to be very optimistic about this vintage! Scroll below to see the quality of the grapes and the enthusiasm of the winemakers.
Last week in August: Picking to the south in Beaujolais and Macon begins
Thursday August 27th: Some have begun picking Chardonnay in the Cote de Beaune at select vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet & Chassagne-Montrachet. It’s reported that most will start on Monday.
Tuesday, September 1st: Hail hits the Yonne including some vineyards in Chablis, days before most were planning to start picking. Those affected only have to pick a few days early. The storm cut in a straight line across the region, sparing 95% of the vineyards in Chablis.
Thursday, September 3rd: Ideal conditions in the Cote de Beaune & Cote de Nuits. Growers are thrilled with the condition of the grapes as many start harvesting Cote de Beaune Reds along with the whites.
Week of September 6: Picking in the Cote de Nuits. Very healthy, beautiful grapes. Small quantities.
Updates from Les Vendanges 2015:
What a day to pick St Romain "le Jarron"
And the fruit ain't bad either:)
And this year I have plenty to go round! pic.twitter.com/Xbh2fHbNEJ— Mark Haisma (@MarkHaisma) September 14, 2015
2015 sera un très grand millésime en #Bourgogne, selon Claude Chevalier, Président du BIVB #vinsdebourgogne pic.twitter.com/q8TPFX8HtA
— Vins de Bourgogne (@VinsdeBourgogne) September 17, 2015
It's easy when the fruit is this good.
Morey Saint Denis 1 Cru Les Chaffots 2015 pic.twitter.com/YmGLNZqLEX— Mark Haisma (@MarkHaisma) September 7, 2015
Harvest 2015 : Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons" : Beautiful ! pic.twitter.com/v6xcenh9MR
— Sébastien Dampt (@SebastienDampt) September 9, 2015
Beware! pic.twitter.com/aZCMX2geST
— Jeremy Seysses (@JeremySeysses) September 8, 2015
Whole cluster Fleurie looking awesome A photo posted by Andrew Nielsen (@legrappinwine) on
A video posted by Ray Walker (@maison_ilan) on
Jour #4 : Le Bourgogne Pinot Noir passe sur la table de tri sans réelle nécessité #Burgundy #Harvest2015 pic.twitter.com/jDKK42tJgW
— Thibault MOREY (@ThibaultMorey) September 4, 2015
A voir tous ces sourires illuminer les visages, la vendange 2015 s'annonce très belle en #Bourgogne et en France 🙂 pic.twitter.com/XxUuvD39mA
— Bourgogne Live (@BourgogneLive) September 4, 2015
Après le choc de début de semaine, grande satisfaction avec les premiers jus de ce millésime prometteur #chablis pic.twitter.com/XRN9u6TZ04
— Matthieu Mangenot (@Matth_Mangenot) September 3, 2015
"2015 s’annonce comme un très grand millésime pour toute la #Bourgogne" BIVB @bourgognespress http://t.co/NUN3nFbRVm pic.twitter.com/hJHkQLahCp
— Bourgogne Live (@BourgogneLive) September 3, 2015
L'heure du tri pour notre #Ursulines ! @GregoryPatriat goûte la #vendange et donne les consignes. #bourgogne #JCB2015 pic.twitter.com/81Rscdo9EC
— Laure Guilloteau (@LaureGuilloteau) September 3, 2015
The hardest working porteur in the business! #fleurie #vendanges2015 A video posted by Andrew Nielsen (@legrappinwine) on
It’s Harvest week in the Côte d’Or | Burgundy. Hooray for ‘les vendanges’ 2015! #thecooksatelier #harvest2015 #wine A photo posted by The Cook’s Atelier (@thecooksatelier) on
Clos Saint Denis this morning. After yesterday's salutary rain, weather has turned cool and dry. Pretty ideal. pic.twitter.com/WZknk6MiVX
— Jeremy Seysses (@JeremySeysses) September 2, 2015
Amazing view from the Corton vineyard few days before the harvest… #BourgogneWines #Bourgogne #backtobourgogne pic.twitter.com/l9xM7XDjku
— Bourgogne Wines (@BourgogneWines) September 1, 2015
#Orages : les vignobles de #Chablis et #Irancy touchés par la #grêle http://t.co/w3FK2m6GDO pic.twitter.com/RmLQYUx30b
— Le Bien Public 🗞️ (@Lebienpublic) September 1, 2015
This team can do 2 Tonnes an hour, no sweat! #vendanges15 A photo posted by Andrew Nielsen (@legrappinwine) on
Future #Richebourg 2015 of Domaine #AFGros #Harvest2015 #burgundy pic.twitter.com/5zmzhCuTYL
— Caroline PARENT GROS (@cparentgros) August 30, 2015
Viticulture en Bourgogne : les vendanges ont commencé à Puligny-Montrachethttp://t.co/csAe0bTB5d pic.twitter.com/7fNtwN8VYB
— Le Bien Public 🗞️ (@Lebienpublic) August 27, 2015
Super healthy grapes this year. pic.twitter.com/XEbdRa9BAz
— Jeremy Seysses (@JeremySeysses) August 29, 2015
Vendanges de nuits dans le Beaujolais par @JpKphotographer #AFP pic.twitter.com/OU3o7WyWFN
— AFP Lyon (@AFPLyon) August 27, 2015
Morning sun on Fremiet grapes. Perfect. Hang in there Volnay. #nohailin2015 pic.twitter.com/kUCQapRdiT
— Marquis d'Angerville (@gdangerville) August 25, 2015
Tiny grapes in our Clos de la Roche.
It takes a few of these to fill a tank! pic.twitter.com/8WdM1mwupg— Jeremy Seysses (@JeremySeysses) August 25, 2015
100% veraison in our parcel of Savigny-lès-Beaune “Aux Fournaux”. Happy, health vines #vendanges2015 A photo posted by Andrew Nielsen (@legrappinwine) on
Fruit A photo posted by Cédric Klapisch (@cedklap) on
Saint Romain Le Jarron
Not even ripe enough for fizz and an enamel stripping acid, but it's coming.
Correct volumes:) pic.twitter.com/kwDVXeKSNb— Mark Haisma (@MarkHaisma) August 22, 2015
Beau potentiel sur les vignes de Chablis 9.8 ° la maturité suit son cours …. pic.twitter.com/n8NfOuJxrR
— Louis Moreau (@MoreauLouis1) August 25, 2015
Soleil radieux et premiers coups de sécateur à #Meursault pour lancer les #vendanges en #Bourgogne! #harvest15 pic.twitter.com/HKtcbVOFwI
— ANIMA VINUM (@AnimaVinum) August 26, 2015