Chablis harvest 2026: what to expect in September

After a mild spring and a bright July, growers across the Chablisien expect picking to begin around mid-September, with a few early parcels started in the first week. Final dates are set plot by plot, according to how the fruit ripens.

Seeing the harvest as a visitor

The harvest is not a staged event: it is a period of intense work. That said, several estates in the village will receive visitors at this time of year, provided you book ahead. You then see the pressing, sometimes the settling, and suddenly understand what the word “vintage” really means.

The best vantage point is free: the grand cru slope, a quarter of an hour’s walk from the house. In the early hours the teams climb into the rows and the Serein valley fills with the sound of secateurs and tractors.

Why September is our favourite season

• Days stay warm, evenings turn cool — the lounge fireplace comes back into service.
• The village is lively without being saturated: cellars have more time for you than in August.
• The low light across the slopes is spectacular, especially from the bottom of the garden.
• September falls in mid season at the house, outside French school holidays.

Booking for the harvest

September weeks go early, often from the spring onwards. If you are thinking of a stay during the harvest, send us your dates now.