Champagne Harvest Is Set to Start at Earliest Since 1822 After Dry Weather

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-08/champagne-harvest-is-set-to-start-at-earliest-since-1822-after-dry-weather.html

The champagne harvest this year is set to start on Aug. 20, its earliest debut in 189 years, as dry weather in France hastens the ripening of grapes.

The only other time the harvest began this early was in 1822, the Comite interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne, a national association of champagne makers, said in an e-mailed statement.

“After an unseasonably severe winter and a spring that was more like summer, the vineyard calendar has been moved forward,” the group said. “The dry weather up to now has kept parasites and diseases at bay, the bunches of grapes are in excellent condition.”

The association said in March that more than 319 million bottles of champagne were sold in 196 countries in 2010 for 4.11 billion euros ($5.89 billion), as the market rebounded after a two-year slump.

[aquart]

1. I don't care when it starts as long as we get champagne.

I like to know it's out there. Meantime there's selzer.

[xchrom]

2. i love real champagne.

italian, spanish -- they're all nice -- but real french champagne -- yum!

[pscot]

3. Was 1822 a good year?

[xchrom]

4. Good question. I don't know.

Though production would play a role in the end product.

[aquart]

5. Sure. If you drank it by 1824.

Or later. But....well, go ahead and open it. If it's vinegar, have a nice salad.