Harvest

Step 1 · whole bunches, often by hand

Many sparkling-wine rules require grapes to reach the press as whole, undamaged bunches. EU "Crémant" and several appellations require hand harvesting, while the Champagne text forbids any harvesting method that does not keep bunches whole.1,2

What the rules say

In Champagne any harvesting method that does not keep bunches whole is prohibited; the 2026 proposal adds that grapes are carried whole to the press.2,3 The text does not use the word "manual". The Union des Maisons de Champagne states that the whole crop is picked by hand, which rules out mechanical harvesters "for the time being at least".8 Both Champagne texts are INAO drafts under national opposition.

WineHarvest rule
EU CrémantBy hand; trade marks registered before 1 March 1986 are exempt1
Crémant de LoireBy hand, loaded whole into the press9
FranciacortaHand picking compulsory4
Alta LangaBy hand, in small perforated crates10
Cava de Paraje CalificadoBy hand, whole grapes into the winery11
Sekt Austria Reserve and Große ReserveBy hand, crates filled to 35 cm at most5,6
Corpinnat100% by hand7

The Crémant de Loire text is an INAO draft under national opposition.

Why whole bunches

Whole bunches go straight into the press, where gentle pressing separates the juice into fractions. The next step in the traditional method is pressing.

See also

PressingMethodsTraditional methodMethodsChampagneRegionsFranciacortaRegionsLabel terms in EU lawMethods

Sources

  1. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)
  2. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Champagne » - modifications approved by the INAO national committee on 11 September 2024 (national opposition procedure text) (2024-09-11)
  3. Cahier des charges AOP Champagne, proposed modifications approved by INAO national committee 18 June 2026 (2026-06-18)
  4. Consorzio per la tutela del Franciacorta. Franciacorta DOCG production regulations (English translation), as amended 17 July 2017 (2017-07-17)
  5. RIS (Austrian Federal Chancellery). Sektbezeichnungsverordnung, BGBl. II Nr. 30/2022 idF BGBl. II Nr. 191/2023, § 3 (Sekt Austria Reserve) (2023-06-24)
  6. RIS (Austrian Federal Chancellery). Sektbezeichnungsverordnung, BGBl. II Nr. 30/2022, § 4 (Sekt Austria Große Reserve) (2022-01-27)
  7. Corpinnat commitments
  8. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Harvests
  9. Cahier des charges AOC Crémant de Loire, proposed modification approved by INAO national committee 27 November 2025 (2025-11-27)
  10. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Alta Langa (modificato con DM 13.10.2014) (2014-10-13)
  11. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Spain). Pliego de condiciones de la Denominación de Origen Protegida «Cava»

Facts checked on 2026-10-19