Early Grape Harvest in France After Heatwave
Listen to the story
Grape growers in France's Beaujolais region have started their grape harvest earlier than usual this year, after a recent heatwave sped up the process.
The harvest, known as the vendange in French, is the yearly picking of grapes for wine-making. It usually takes place in September, but hot weather this year has changed the timing.
At Domaine Lelais, a wine estate in the region, workers began picking grapes on August 18. One person from the farm said they did not expect the harvest to start so early.
The early start is not only happening in Beaujolais. In Alsace, another French wine region, a special office called Cellule Alsace Vendanges has been receiving about 500 calls a week from people wanting to help with the harvest.
Viticulture, the growing of grapes for wine, depends heavily on weather conditions. Hot temperatures can make grapes ripen faster, forcing farmers to adjust their usual schedules.
This year's heatwave appears to have had a strong effect on how quickly grapes have matured. Farmers across different regions are seeing similar changes to their harvest calendars.
The story highlights how extreme weather, such as heatwaves, is starting to influence traditional farming timelines. Many in the wine industry are now closely watching seasonal weather patterns each year.
Vocabulary7 words
- grape harvest
- the time when workers pick grapes from vines
- vendange
- French word for the grape harvest
- viticulture
- the farming of grapes, mainly for wine
- heatwave
- a period of very hot weather that lasts several days
- estate
- a large piece of farmland, often with buildings
- ripen
- to become ready to pick and eat
- region
- a specific area within a country
Quiz
Answer key
1. A recent heatwave 2. An office that helps organise harvest workers 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Grape growers in France's Beaujolais region have started their grape _____ earlier than usual this year, after a recent _____ sped up the process.
The harvest, known as the _____ in French, is the yearly picking of grapes for wine-making. It usually takes place in _____, but hot weather this year has changed the timing.
At Domaine Lelais, a wine _____ in the region, workers began picking grapes on August _____. One person from the farm said they did not expect the harvest to start so early.
In another French wine region called _____, a special office has been receiving about _____ calls a week from people wanting to help with the harvest.
_____, the growing of grapes for wine, depends heavily on weather conditions. Hot temperatures can make grapes _____ faster, forcing farmers to adjust their usual schedules.