leggy_blonde-
Yield regulation
The harvest base yield fixed by the INAO is 10,400 kg/ha, revisable upwards or downwards depending on the quality and quantity of the yield but capped at 15,500 kg/ha for AOC production.The rationale for capping yields lies in the high-density planting system in Champagne, with vines planted very close together (8,000 per hectare) to improve ripening and therefore quality. Limited juice extraction – just 102 litres of must per 160 kg of grapes – is a key part of this policy and brings the final yield to 66 hectolitres per hectare.
2020
Houses have been given the AOC 7,000kg per hectare immediately, whilst grower-producers will be given 8,000 kg. If sales figures reach 202 million bottles this year, then Houses will be authorised to use a further 1000 kg per hectare. If these sales are not met, then this 1000kg will be authorised as part of the 2021 yield. Given that the average over the last decade has been 13,500 kg, this represents a large drop in income for growers.
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Vince
For those interested, the 2020 Champagne harvest was exceptional.
We had limited yield this year at 7,000kg+1,000kg instead of the circa 10,000kg we had in the recent past.
First time ever that we started and finished the harvest in August.
Based on our observations, the harvest has started on day earlier every year over the last past 30 years (in case you doubted that Global Warming was real).