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The earliest harvest on record for France's Champagne region is now underway, driven by extreme heat.
Taste profile, the specific balance of acidity, effervescence, and fruit character that makes the wine recognizable from vintage to vintage, is what producers are working to protect after the picking window moved ahead of every prior season on record.
That balance starts with the grapes. Extreme heat accelerates ripening, shifting the ratio of sugar to acid inside the fruit before the harvest even begins.
Champagne's winemaking process is built around a particular kind of starting material.
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