News from the Vineyard - Harvest time in Burgundy!

August 18, 2020

By Eléonore Lafarge

The 2020 harvest is around the corner!

Domaine Michel Lafarge, Clos du Château des Ducs, August 17, 2020

The harvest is the most important time of the year for winemakers. It is the result of an entire year of work, taking care of the vineyard to give the best grapes possible. It is always a special time of the year where a lot of different people come together to work but mostly have fun. The key word of harvest in any domaine of Burgundy is conviviality.

However, this year the harvest will feel different for two reasons.

First, because of the COVID-19 crisis, winemakers had to adapt to make sure the pickers will remain safe. Making sure no one has any symptoms, washing every tool very carefully, not getting too close to each other are the new norms. Each person will have his own tools (scissors, buckets, reusable plastic cup…) and not share them with the other pickers. The feeling of sharing that usually glides over Burgundy during the harvest slightly fades away.

Second, 2020 has been a very hot year. The hotness and dryness in April and May made the vines grow very fast. Since the end of July, France has suffered from a heat wave. These very high temperatures result in a very early harvest. Most domaines will start picking between the 18th and 25th of August. An earlier start than 2003! Fortunately, a little rain fell in Burgundy on the weekend, which helped the vineyard.