Photos: Heat waves accelerate Champagne grape harvest in France
Climatic changes such as the record heat and drought endured across swathes of Europe this summer are testing the resilience of France's champagne industry.
Grape vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Glasses and a bottle of Jean Valut Champagne at the Champagne house of Champagne Jean Velut, during the early start of the Champagne harvest, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, in Montgueux, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A glass of Champagne at the Champagne house of Champagne Jean Velut, during the early start of the Champagne harvest, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, in Montgueux, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A glass of Champagne is poured at the Champagne house of Champagne Jean Velut, during the early start of the Champagne harvest, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, in Montgueux, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Harvested bunches of grapes at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A bunch of grapes hangs from a vine at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Bunches of grapes hang from vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Grape pickers harvest fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Grape pickers harvest fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Grape pickers harvest fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A grape picker harvests fruit from the vines at the Champagne Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows a grape picker harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
A drone view shows grape pickers harvesting fruit from the vines at the Jean Velut vineyard during the early start of the Champagne harvest, in Montgueux, as heatwaves accelerate grape harvest across French vineyards, France, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier