In many French vineyards, the grape harvest has begun several weeks earlier than the average seen in recent decades, signaling a warming climate that is significantly affecting the wine industry. From the Languedoc in the south to Alsace in the east, through Bordeaux and Champagne, many vineyards have started picking grapes in August—unusual for these regions. This early start is due to an exceptionally hot summer marked by four intense heatwaves and a historic drought. Charlotte Huber, technical director of the Confederation of Appellations and Winemakers of Burgundy (CAVB), noted that the earliest harvests began around August 10, typically for the Crémant de Bourgogne appellation, which produces sparkling wine. She emphasized that this has never been seen before. In Burgundy, harvests have spread throughout August, depending on grape varieties, vine locations, and the type of wine produced. Historically, the first grape picking would occur toward the end of September, but the grapevine cycle has advanced due to the warming climate. Researcher Thomas Labbé from the University of Burgundy-Europe confirmed that since the 1980s, harvests have increasingly started earlier. Data from historical archives, reconstructed at the vineyard of the hospices of Beaune, show that the average harvest date shifted from September 28 in 1987 to September 13 by 2023—a difference of 15 days. Early harvests, once rare, are now occurring much more frequently, with records that used to happen every 30 years in the 20th century now occurring every two years. The trend is not limited to Burgundy. In Champagne, the start of the harvest was announced on August 12, breaking the previous record by eight days. Near Nantes, the Muscadet harvest began in emergency on August 11. Just two days later, the famous Beaujolais region in the Rhône area also started its harvest. In Alsace, by September 4, two-thirds of the vineyard had already been harvested—the fastest and earliest in history, according to Arthur Froehly of Vinopole Alsace. While early harvests indicate the effects of climate change, they do not necessarily mean poor harvests. Jean-Marc Touzard from Inrae noted that this year has been very good, with warm and dry weather reducing the risk of diseases like downy mildew, leading to healthy grapes. Although yields are lower in many vineyards, the quality is high. However, the lack of rain has limited the growth of grape clusters, and some areas, especially those with shallow soils, have been more severely affected. Recent rains have helped to restore some balance. Winemakers are facing new challenges as they try to maintain the delicate balance between acidity, sugar, and aroma in the grapes. Charlotte Huber explained that in such conditions, winemakers need to be more reactive, as the vines behave in ways that are not yet fully understood. Global warming has also increased the sugar concentration in the grapes, leading to higher potential alcohol levels in wines. This has prompted more farmers to conduct harvests during the early morning or at night, particularly in southern regions, to avoid the heat. While short-term strategies like adjusting harvest times are helping, experts like Jean-Marc Touzard stress that more profound changes are needed. The Laccave project, a decade-long initiative by over 100 scientists, has identified key adaptation strategies, such as improving soil quality, diversifying grape varieties, managing water resources more effectively, and innovating in winemaking techniques. These efforts aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of French viticulture in the face of climate change.