The Climate Change Conundrum of Champagne's Early Harvest The hillsides of Hautvillers in northeastern France are a flurry of activity as grape pickers start work at 6:30 a. m.
, trying to salvage the world famous sparkling wine from the devastating effects of extreme heat and drought.
This year's earliest harvest on record has left growers with a narrow window to preserve quality, forcing them to rethink their traditional methods.