The care of the vines of Champagne is strictly monitored. Only three systems of pruning are authorized in Champagne, each designed to limit the yield of the vines and to ensure that the grapes grow close to the ground.

From the winter until August, successive tasks include pruning, ploughing, tying, debudding and finally trimming. Much of this is done by hand. The weather decides the dates of the harvest, which varies according to the village and the grape varieties. Typically, the harvest takes place in Autumn, a hundred days after the flowering of the vine. During the harvest, grapes are carefully picked by hand and sorted to remove any damaged fruit. Only the best bunches are picked and as quickly as possible, the grapes are then pressed in large low presses.

Once a generation, the vines of Champagne are replanted in order to guarantee strong, high-quality harvests. While older vines do exist, the average age of a vine in Champagne is approximately 20 years of age.

The Cycle of the Vine

Traditional Vine Festivals:

There are two important celebrations of the vine in Champagne:

La Saint Vincent: Honors the patron saint of growers on January 22nd. Dressed in traditional clothes and carrying colorful staves bearing the statue of Saint Vincent, the growers walk in procession to a solemn mass in each village. Afterwards, they will discuss the merits of the past harvest and also pray for plentiful future harvests at a traditional banquet.