Since 1941, the CIVC (Comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne) has safeguarded the common interest of the Vignerons and Champagne Maisons by actively operating in the markets in order to ensure the balance and expansion of the entire Champagne supply chain and to protect its denomination.
Among the different objectives to which it is responsible there is also the control of the quantities of grapes harvested during the harvest: the Comité de Champagne together with the INAO (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité) establishes the authorized yield every year, within the limit of maximum yield defined by the European Union. A decision that favors viticulture in balance with the ecosystem to produce a sufficient quantity of quality grapes.
For the 2023 harvest, the marketable yield was set at 11,400 kg/ha, quite in line with that established for 2022, set at 12,000 kg/ha and which represented the highest level approved in the last 15 years.
A strategic choice dictated by the need to make the most of favorable years: in fact, to date the health status of the vineyards in Champagne is good and augurs for an excellent harvest, thanks also to the fact that phenomena such as frosts, hailstorms and vineyard diseases were limited. The cool summer temperatures seem to have marginalized mold phenomena, good news given that the bunches are dense and compact and any humid microclimates could rise to the risk of disease.
With this in mind, the CIVC has also decided to increase the "Réserve Individuelle" from 8,000 kg/ha to 10,000 kg/ha, i.e. the reserve made up of wines from previous years which makes it possible to compensate for any deficiencies. In this way, winemakers will be able to reserve part of the harvest that looks positive, ensuring the future marketable yield and the balance of world markets increasingly oriented towards Champagne.
In fact, data from the CIVC show that yields per hectare have decreased by 26% in the last 12 years, as a consequence of some factors, including climate change which has a negative impact on the health of the vines, favoring the spread of certain diseases, combined with natural aging of the vineyards; which is why it is necessary to take advantage of good years to strengthen the reserve.
Although shipments for the first half of 2023 dropped by 4.7% (including France) compared to the same period of 2022, with 125.8 million bottles shipped, the CIVC maintains confidence in the market and aims for the coming months to reach the target of 314 million bottles shipped at the end of the year.
We have to wait for the official start date of the 2023 harvest, the most important moment of the year and in which lies the promise of a fantastic Millésime 2023.
In the meantime, among the news and the bests of our collection, we want to suggest you some Vigneron Champagnes from the latest vintage on the market, namely the Millésime 2019; an exceptional vintage, where nature gave its best and the producers who knew how to exploit these favorable conditions both in the vineyard and in the cellar created excellent Champagnes. Rich and deep wines, complex, fresh and with excellent acidity.
Discover HERE all the Champagnes and Côteaux Champenois 2019 from the GLUGULP! collection.
Don't miss the opportunity to discover all the other Champagnes in our online shop! Click HERE to choose your favorite bottles.