All talk in Burgundy right now is about the Harvest. No different than any other August except that this year the harvest will be so early as to actually be in August and apparently the earliest on record!
The 2026 growing season has moved at extraordinary speed, with heatwaves and a remarkably warm summer pushing the vines towards harvest weeks ahead of traditional schedules. On August 13, our winemakers in Montrachet began picking , making 2026 the earliest recorded harvest for still wine in Burgundy — beating a record that had stood since August 15, 1556.
It is an extraordinary date in Burgundy’s history. But there is another, more encouraging side to the story: the fruit looks remarkably good.
The grapes coming into the cellars are reported to be healthy, with impressive sugar levels, surprisingly good acidity and promising aromatics. For growers, that combination is reason for real optimism. The challenge is no longer simply getting the grapes ripe; it is knowing exactly when to pick to preserve the freshness, balance and character that make great Burgundy.
That is where Burgundy’s winemakers come into their own.
At burgundywine.com, we have always believed that the vigneron matters as much as the vintage. Our relationships with small, quality-focused producers give us a close-up view of how Burgundy’s best growers respond to challenging conditions. As we have seen in previous warm vintages, careful vineyard work and good judgement in the cellar can turn extraordinary weather into extraordinary wine.
And there is plenty happening among the producers we work with.
Domaine Joliet, in the North of the Cote D’Or for example, continues to demonstrate why historic vineyards and committed growers remain such a powerful combination in Burgundy. Their wines are part of the new generation of Burgundy discoveries we are particularly excited about in 2026. Domaine Gilles Bouton in the South of the Cote D’Or is another producer to watch, with precise, mineral-driven Chardonnay that shows how freshness and balance can remain central even as the climate gets warmer.
Moving further south we are equally excited about the return of Château Cary Potet. Their Montagny Premier Cru wines — including Les Burnins and Les Jardins — offer two very different expressions of Chardonnay: one deep and powerful, the other bright, floral and remarkably vibrant. It is precisely this diversity that makes Burgundy so fascinating in a vintage as unusual as 2026.
And then there is Cromey’s Le Clos
Here at Domaine de Cromey, we have a very personal reason to be excited about this year’s harvest.
Our historic seven-acre Le Clos vineyard is entering another important chapter. Reborn after decades of neglect and farmed with organic and biodynamic principles, Le Clos is now producing wines that are beginning to reveal the special character that first convinced us to restore the vineyard.
Early, but not as early as some. The 2026 harvest at Le Clos begins on August 25.
That date may sound astonishingly early — and it is — but it also reflects the extraordinary health and maturity of the fruit following this year’s warm growing season. The elevation at Le Clos is higher, accounting for the later harvest date than neighboring appellations.
The vineyard’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are being watched carefully, with the aim of capturing the balance rather than simply chasing ripeness. The result could be a fascinating vintage for Le Clos, a historic vineyard reborn and one already producing wines that punch well above their weight.
So yes, Burgundy is facing a changing climate. Harvest dates are moving earlier, and growers are having to adapt. And quality is climbing the hills. But there is no reason for Burgundy lovers to despair.
Quite the opposite.
The vines are resilient. The growers are experienced. And the fruit of 2026 is giving Burgundy’s winemakers plenty of reasons to smile.
We will be following the harvest closely from Cromey and sharing more as the 2026 vintage takes shape.
For now, with August 25 upon us, we look forward to the joy the Le Clos 2026 vintage will bring as it unfolds.
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