The 2026 Champagne harvest has officially begun, but it seems very slow out of the starting blocks. On Monday, I travelled to Montgueux to see Chantal Gonet, of Champagne Philippe Gonet, based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, kick off the domain’s harvest on the steep chalky vineyards of this Aube’s Chardonnay enclave. She started nine days earlier than last year, and canceled her mountain vacation to get her grapes in at optimal ripeness.
The village of Montgueux is one of only ten villages to have requested an exception to begin the harvest before the official Ban des Vendanges (opening harvest dates per village) was communicated today. It opened its (and Champagne’s) harvest season on August 8th.
