Heatwaves shrink Bordeaux grapes and accelerate the 2026 harvest

Wine producers across Bordeaux are preparing for an early, difficult harvest as nearly two months without rain and ongoing heatwaves shrink grapes on the vine, even though local vineyards narrowly escaped destruction from massive wildfires burning across south-western France.While authorities have managed to control the worst of the regional fires, allowing tens of thousands of displaced residents to return home, grape growers now face another crisis caused by extreme heat and long dry spells. Grape berries are drying under the sun, speeding up sugar levels while reducing juice production for the 2026 vintage.Evacuation orders lifted around BordeauxIn Gironde, emergency teams successfully controlled a major fire that had burned for more than a week near the famous winemaking region.Gironde Prefect Sophie Brocas confirmed in an official statement that evacuation orders have been lifted across 12 districts west and south-west of Bordeaux.