Harvesting continues...

Harvest 2025: Busy nights at Château Auzines and Château Cazal Viel

Harvest season is in full swing. At Domaines Les Auzines, the Albariño and Chardonnay grapes are now being picked, while at Château Cazal Viel, it’s the turn of the old-vine Syrah and Grenache.

Our team works tirelessly through the night, from dusk until dawn, to bring in the year’s harvest. But why do we harvest by night? In the Languedoc, heat has always been a defining challenge. Climate change has made it even more complex, with extended droughts caused by unusually dry winters, and unpredictable weather arriving at unseasonal times throughout the year.

Laurent knew that to achieve the finesse and elegance he sought, he had to find ways to temper the intensity of summer heat. Alongside planting vineyards along a north–south orientation and at higher altitudes, he implemented night harvesting — a practice carried out in the cooler hours between dusk and dawn. Lower temperatures slow sugar accumulation and preserve vibrant acidity, enabling us to craft fresh, dry, and elegant wines naturally, without chemical intervention.

Night harvesting is becoming more common as global warming continues to reshape viticulture, but Laurent was ahead of the curve, establishing the policy of harvesting all our vineyards exclusively at night. Our on-site wineries at both domaines mean the grapes are never left to sit under the sun, avoiding oxidation and safeguarding quality from vine to vat.

So far, we’re delighted with what this vintage is giving us and look forward to sharing a full harvest report at the end of the season. Back to work — the night is calling.