Westhoek winemakers to harvest early due to heat, sooner than record year 2025

Grape growers in Belgium's Westhoek region are gearing up for an unusually early harvest, with some set to begin picking grapes as soon as next week. This accelerated ripening, driven by extreme heat, is occurring even sooner than the record-breaking year of 2025.

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For winemaking, the heat is not bad.

While the heat is beneficial for grape maturation, it has resulted in smaller fruit size due to a lack of moisture. However, experienced winemakers anticipate this will lead to higher quality wines. Smaller grapes with less juice mean a greater concentration of sugars, aromas, and color, ultimately producing a superior product, albeit with a lower yield per hectare.

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The ripening is happening even earlier than last year.

The trend of earlier harvests is not unique to Belgium, with colleagues in France also anticipating earlier picking. This phenomenon is increasingly viewed as a clear indicator of climate change. Despite challenges like rain and wind in early June affecting some vineyards, leading to issues like "misbloei" (poor fruit set), the overall outlook for Belgian winemaking remains positive. Several top years have occurred in the last decade, and the industry continues to expand with new vineyards emerging.

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What is normal then? The harvest starts earlier every year and not just here. My colleagues in France will also harvest earlier. That is confirmation of climate change, for anyone who still doubts it.