Heatwave pushes France to raise champagne alcohol limit

France has temporarily raised the permitted alcohol content of champagne to 15 per cent, up from the usual 13 per cent, as record summer heat altered grape development across the Champagne region.

The higher limit follows an exceptionally early 2026 harvest. The first grapes were cut on 6 August, with harvesting becoming widespread on 17 August — about two weeks earlier than in 2025. The Comite Champagne described it as the earliest harvest recorded in the region.

Extreme heat accelerated the accumulation of sugar in the grapes, increasing their natural alcohol potential. The change is expected to affect only a small number of growers, with the average alcohol level after harvest remaining below 12 per cent.

The Comite Champagne said the crop showed signs of producing “great, perhaps even exceptional” wines. That assessment comes as heat and drought deepen concerns about how French wine producers will manage changing growing conditions.

Maxime Toubart, co-chairman of the Comite Champagne, said unusually early harvests could become normal within 10 to 15 years because of climate change. He said the shift should prompt reflection on the future of champagne production.