Early start for 'exceptional' Bordeaux white wine harvest

BORDEAUX, France — Winegrowers in France's Bordeaux region have begun harvesting their white wine grapes two weeks earlier than in 2008, industry professionals said Thursday, predicting an "exceptional year".

"The grapes are healthy, they developed well. There was a good match between the weather and the vine's development," said the Bordeaux Interprofessional Wine Council, the CIVB.

"Winegrowers are very optimistic, even if they want to stay cautious until the grape is in," said Olivier Bernard, a local wine union leader from Pessac-Leognan.

"July and August were exceptional, very sunny, with wind and cool nights that allowed the grape to reach perfect maturity," he said.

"It looks like it's going to be an exceptional year, on a par with 2005."

Last year white wine grapes -- which account for around 10 percent of Bordeaux's production -- were harvested from September 8 onwards.

The red wine harvest is set to begin between the last week of September and the first week of October, also two weeks earlier than 2008, Bernard said.

The French agriculture ministry predicts the 2009 Bordeaux grape harvest to be almost one third bigger in volume than last year.