A vintage year for champagne

CORKS are popping for champagne producers who are set to enjoy their best harvest in a decade thanks to the heatwave.

While the grape harvest would normally take place in September, this year’s kicked off on Tuesday and is only the fifth in the last 15 years to begin in August.

Aldi’s champagne supplier Philizot & Fils was among those starting to pick grapes in the northeast region of France.

Maxime Toubart, the president of the Champagne winegrowers’ union, said: ‘The last few years have been tough. This year is expected to be exceptionally good so we are very happy.’