10/05/2026
Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre — October 7–11, 2026
In Montmartre, the harvest will be celebrated in October. In Ch*****ne, grapes were already being picked in early August. This striking contrast between tradition and nature’s changing timetable connects this year’s festival with my recent journey through Ch*****ne.
Although I won’t be in Paris, my travels through the vineyards around Reims, the Montagne de Reims and the Aube, along with cellar visits and tastings in Aÿ and near Épernay, highlighted one recurring theme: climate change and its impact on viticulture.
2026 was the earliest Ch*****ne harvest ever recorded. The first grapes were picked on August 6, the ban des vendanges was announced on August 12, and harvesting was widespread by August 17. Growers are already adapting as warmer seasons bring earlier harvests.
Against this backdrop, Montmartre’s October celebration offers a striking contrast:
The calendar of tradition still says October.
The vines increasingly say August.
Yet harvest is more than picking grapes. It is a reason to gather, share food and w**e, make music and celebrate a place. The Clos Montmartre preserves that connection between vineyard and community, even as nature’s calendar changes.
W**e remains a conversation between nature, people and time. Nature’s timing may shift, but our desire to gather and celebrate what the vineyard gives us endures.
