France lifts alcohol content limit on champagne after record heatwaves
French champagne producers have been granted a temporary increase in the allowed alcohol content for this year's harvest. This decision follows record-breaking heatwaves and droughts that caused grapes to develop unusually high sugar levels.
Why it matters
This highlights the tangible impact of climate change on traditional agricultural industries and regulatory standards in Europe.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Dearbail Jordan Reporter Getty Images Champagne lovers may find themselves getting tipsy more quickly after French producers have been given the go-ahead to raise the alcohol content in a bottle of bubbly for the first time following this summer's record heatwave.
Winemakers can temporarily produce champagne with an alcohol content of up to 15% - above the 13% cap, industry officials have said.
The extreme heat and drought produced grapes with exceptionally higher sugar levels. Yeast converts sugar into alcohol during fermentation.
France's Champagne region also saw its earliest-ever harvest due to the weather, something that could become the norm "in 10 to 15 years" because of climate change, according to the Comite Champagne industry association.
The temporary increase in champagne's alcohol content is only expected to affect a small number of wines, a spokeswoman for the Comite Champagne told the BBC.
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