Belgian winegrowers have begun harvesting grapes exceptionally early this year, with the sector expecting a strong vintage after a warm and dry summer. The first grapes are already being picked in Heuvelland (Monts des Flandres, Flemish Hill Country), West Flanders, while growers elsewhere in the country are preparing to start the harvest in the coming days.
The first variety being harvested is Solaris, a white hybrid grape developed in Germany in the 1970s. It is known for ripening early in the summer and is well suited to Belgium‘s cooler climate. The sandy soils of Heuvelland are also helping the grapes mature quickly.
Lodewijk Waes, chairman of Belgian Winemakers, said to Belga the grapes were ripening faster than usual because of the warm weather. While growers in Heuvelland have already started picking, producers in other parts of Belgium are still waiting for rain before beginning their harvest.
At Wijndomein Waes in Zwijnaarde, the harvest is more than two weeks ahead of the long-term average. The vineyard started picking even earlier than last year, when harvesting began in the final weekend of August. The grapes are reportedly looking particularly good, although they are smaller than average.
The smaller berries contain less juice, meaning production is expected to be lower. In De Standaard, Wijndomein Waes expects to produce around 15,000 bottles this year, compared with its usual 20,000. However, the reduced amount of juice also means that the flavours are more concentrated.
Good prospects, but not yet a guaranteed exceptional wine
The combination of warm weather and healthy grapes has raised expectations across the Belgian wine sector. Wine expert Alain Bloeykens considers this likely to be a good Belgian wine year.
However, an early harvest does not automatically mean that the finished wine will be exceptional. As grapes ripen, their sugar levels rise and eventually contribute to alcohol. Other components responsible for aroma, freshness and finesse may not necessarily mature at the same pace.
Bloeykens therefore cautioned that very early harvesting could produce wines with considerable intensity and alcohol but potentially less freshness and finesse. The final quality will only become clear once the grapes have been processed and the wines have matured.
The weather forecast could nevertheless work in Belgian growers’ favour. More changeable conditions, including rain, are expected next week. Waes said this could allow the berries to swell somewhat and increase yields without sacrificing quality.
Climate change reshaping European wine production
The favourable conditions in Belgium stand in sharp contrast to the situation in parts of France. Southern French wine regions are experiencing another severe heatwave, following several previous periods of extreme heat this summer. Excessive temperatures can hamper grape development and, in extreme cases, damage or burn the fruit.
French vineyards have also been hit by intense thunderstorms, excessive rainfall in short periods and hail, all of which can destroy crops and further reduce yields. Wildfires are another concern, although the risk of grapes acquiring a smoky flavour from nearby fires is considered relatively small and generally depends on prolonged exposure to heavy smoke.
The changing climate is increasingly altering the geography of European wine production. Hotter summers could make some traditional southern wine regions, including parts of Andalusia, increasingly difficult to cultivate. At the same time, warmer conditions are opening opportunities further north.
Wine production has already been expanding in countries such as England, where Champagne producers have been buying land, while growers in Denmark and Sweden are also experimenting with vineyards.
Belgium is part of this broader expansion of cool-climate winegrowing. Although the country’s wine industry remains relatively small, production has grown substantially in recent decades, with vineyards now found in both Flanders and Wallonia. Belgium has several recognised wine regions, including Heuvelland, Hageland and Hesbaye (Haspengouw), as well as the Côtes de Sambre et Meuse region in Wallonia.
For Belgian winegrowers, this year’s exceptionally early harvest is another sign of how changing climatic conditions are creating new opportunities for northern European viticulture. Whether 2026 ultimately becomes a truly exceptional vintage, however, will depend on what happens between the vineyard and the bottle.
