The 2018 harvest vintage at Rives-Blanques kicked off on September 3, 2018, a ‘back to normal’ start date, following on after the earliest harvest in our history (2017) and the latest harvest in our history (2016).

It ends on September 27, and conditions throughout, apart from a few days of extreme heat obliging us to start harvesting before dawn,  were excellent.

The year, however, was not. The wettest spring, the hottest summer, the worst outbreak of mildew recorded since 1948 presented challenges never experienced before.  For organic producers such as Rives-Blanques, it was an impossible situation..  Hail in early July affected us as well, and contributed to the complete loss of some parcels, and a good deal of damage in others.

On the positive side, the grapes that survived the tribulations that unfolded in the course of the year, are concentrated, healthy, and well balanced.

Our production of 2018 wines will be limited, but indications are that they will be very good.  It is too soon to say ‘small but perfectly formed’, but early signs are very positive.

There is a blow-by-blow account of this year’s harvest in our Diary of a Vineyard.