BUYING GUIDES
GASTRONOMY
In the kitchen with Stéphane Derbord
GOOD ADDRESSES
Pierre Renauld - Jérôme Fanouillere
Volnay villages and premier crus
Mason
Jérôme Galeyrand
Transmission
The Quay (Tournus – 71)
Le Cerisier (Tournon – 07)
L'Écume Gourmande in Cercié
GOOD AND GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
BUYING GUIDE
CASE
GASTRONOMY
Rémi Genot - By the Bell Tower
The year 2025 will leave a strong mark on the memory of the winegrowers of the Valley of Rhône northern. It embodies both the harshness of the climate and the remarkable adaptability of the vineyard. Two heatwaves, in June and then in August, punctuated the season, the second proving particularly devastating.
While the vines had managed to withstand the first heatwave in June, thanks to a generously wet winter and spring, the August heatwave put them to a severe test. "There was sufficient water reserves to cushion the blow in June," explains Cyril Courvoisier, President of the appellation Cornas, "but the week with temperatures exceeding forty degrees in August created very contrasting situations depending on the altitude and exposure of the hillsides."
Then, towards the end of August, moderate rains came to relieve the vines and give them a bit of a boost. It was in this context that the harvest began at exceptionally early dates, as in the Maison Mr. Chapoutier, who made the first cuts with pruning shears on August 14th on his plots in Saint-Péray.
Promising balances despite declining volumes.
Volumes are expected to be down. The poor grape set, observed as early as May, had already alerted winegrowers even before the heatwave. The heat stress only exacerbated this deficit, which was further aggravated locally by pressure from… game.
Yet, the quality seems to be there. The grapes were in exemplary condition, and the first tastings at the end of fermentation suggest concentrated and balanced wines. "It's sunny, intensely colored, concentrated in tannins, but without excess," emphasizes Cyril Courvoisier. "We've preserved beautiful acidity and a fine, elegant tannic structure." This reflects both the winemakers' accumulated experience in dealing with extreme weather and the richness of the vintage.
Towards a new era of adaptation
With a summer ranked among the three hottest ever recorded in France, 2025 marks a turning point for viticulture. As Cyril Courvoisier points out, "these phenomena are incredibly violent and rapid, exceeding the pace of a generation of winemakers." According to him, it's difficult to identify a general trend, other than one of extremes: "Since 2021, the region has gone from a scorching vintage to a rainy one, from severe frost to record-breaking heat."
Despite the challenges of the 2025 vintage, the vines, like the winemakers, are demonstrating remarkable resilience. Thanks to a better understanding of the terroirs and increasingly refined practices, the Valley of Rhône Septentrionale demonstrates its ability to transform these trials into learning experiences and to build, vintage after vintage, the foundations of a more adaptable viticulture.
Vintages-harvests
For Fabien Leduc, a consultant at Terroirist, there was nothing miraculous about it: at the end of May, the vines were at their peak thanks to a wet winter, a mild spring, and a very abundant grape set. These factors also allowed them to establish deep roots where water remained available. […]
Small in volume but generous in alcohol content, the 2026 harvest, which is nearing its end for many winemakers, is making a lasting impression. Beaujolais While the southern part of the vineyard seems to be in a better position, the quality of the vintage will depend in part on the winemakers' ability to properly manage the sugar-acidity (im)balances.
Vintages-harvests
Just under a month ago, on July 28th, we wrote: “It is clear today that if the coming month unfolds like the previous one, that is to say, practically without a drop of rain, then one wonders what the Burgundy winegrowers will harvest (...).” We have […]
