In Burgundy, the 2021 harvest ended at the beginning of October and it is possible to establish the first trends of a vintage, once again, out of the ordinary. The quality promises to be excellent, close to the Burgundian classics, while the quantities are historically low. Half a harvest. This is the observation, to date, of most of the leaders of the Burgundy interprofessions. The 2021 vintage, marked by frosts of rare intensity in April, should peak at around 800,000 to 900,000 hectoliters for the entire region, against 1.56 million hectoliters in 2020, a year with very decent volumes. "Probably the lowest figures of the contemporary period," said Thiébault Huber, president of the confederation of burgundy winegrowers. But these raw figures hide a very heterogeneous reality. Volumes 2021: Chardonnays toast In the areas where red is in the majority, such as the Côte de Nuits, the results are rather better, and we talk about -20 to -30% of harvest, depending on the area. Pinot Noir has indeed suffered less this year: its buds were poorly developed when the cold wave arrived in spring. On the other hand, the blank lands blame the blow. In Chablis as in the Mâconnais, winegrowers estimate losses at -70% or even -80% of a normal harvest. Chardonnay, whose buds had already come out in April, suffered the full brunt of the frost.
| A national trend At the national level, the outlook is less bleak, with -27% of harvest compared to the average. But the France is falling behind other wine-growing countries, which are less affected by climatic hazards this year. Thus, in 2021, France falls to the rank of third largest producer in the world, behind Italy and Spain. |
In some areas, such as Pouilly-Fuissé, hail has been added to the list of calamities. The result: almost zero harvests in some plots. To cope, Burgundy winegrowers must benefit from a series of aids: tax breaks and the release of a state envelope, among others. Quality and commercial success Now, producers are focusing on the winemaking work, which continues at the end of October. And on this side, there is something to celebrate: the wines look fresh, with lower levels of alcohol than in recent years. The aromatic is precise, with a very expressive fruit. And according to the first data, the vintage would be conducive to wines for ageing. Something to please lovers of burgundy. "We are reconnecting with the classics," says Frédéric Drouhin, president of the BIVB (Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne). At the same time, the success of Burgundy wines is undeniable. The region exported 22% more in the first seven months of 2021 compared to the first seven months of 2019 (pre-covid period). For the rest of the French AOCs, this figure amounts to only +8%.
