On July 30th, the first grapes of the 2024 vintage were harvested in Fitou, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. This was reported by winemaker Laurent Maynadier from Domaine Champ des Sœurs. The next day, Jean-Marc Lafage in the Pyrénées-Orientales department followed suit. Both were harvesting parcels planted with Muscat Petits Grains at that time.
The early harvest results in wines with a very specific profile: very fresh, with low alcohol content and high thiol levels, making them very aromatic. Laurent Maynadier believes these wines are perfect for blending with Roussanne, while Jean-Marc Lafage uses them for his Frizzante-Cuvée Miraflors blanc, which has 9% alcohol by volume. According to the industry platform "Vitisphere," both winemakers have been among the national "early starters" for years.
In contrast, the harvest of the region's classic grape varieties doesn't begin until around August 10th to 15th. In 2022, the harvest had already started on July 25th, setting a record. In fact, the start of the harvest has increasingly shifted to July, with Laurent Maynadier starting in July four times in the past eight years. SP
