If you want to get the latest news about the 2012 harvest in Champagne as it unfolds then My Man In Champagne is the place for you.
Depending on who you talk to and what the weather does in the coming few days there may be two or three weeks to go until the harvest starts.
Three weeks ago, 20th September was the date being suggested as the start date, but after a week of fine, warm weather, what I'm hearing now is that 17th is looking the most likely date.
What a change from last year when, in many villages, it was all over by the end of August.
Mind you, 17th September is looking a bit optimistic in some places. I took this picture on 29th August in Ludes in La Montagne de Reims and as you can see, the Veraison (that's the changing of colour for the black grapes) still had a long way to go.
I'll be out and about next week and in particular I'm meeting David Pehu of Champagne Pehu Simonet, a super producer in the village of Verzenay. So it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.
Do come back regularly to see the images, read the reports and watch the vidoes from right here in the vineyards.
Meanwhile,
Stay Bubly
