Vintage 2025 is underway!

Harvest Season Begins at Château Cazal Viel

The harvest season has officially begun in St-Chinian at Château Cazal Viel — usually two to three weeks earlier than the cooler, high-altitude vineyards at Château Auzines. This is always a pivotal and uplifting time in the vineyard calendar, when a year’s worth of care and dedication finally takes shape in the fruit. The days may be long, but the sense of anticipation is worth every moment.

This year, the start of harvest follows a particularly challenging few weeks in the Languedoc, as large wildfires swept through the Aude department. We count ourselves fortunate: favourable winds kept the flames at bay, and weren't directly affected. We remain deeply thankful to the tireless firefighters who worked day and night to contain the blazes and protect our communities.

One of the cornerstones of our approach to winemaking is night harvesting. We’ve been doing this for years — long before it became common practice — because Laurent knew the difference it makes to the finesse and freshness of our wines. In the past, some saw it as an unnecessary expense, but the effects of a warming climate have made it not only beneficial, but essential. Working from dusk to dawn allows us to pick grapes at cooler temperatures, preserving their natural aromas and acidity.

Over the next few weeks, our team will be working around the clock. The tanks and barrels are cleaned, ready, and waiting to receive this year’s harvest. Early tests have shown an excellent balance of sugar, acidity, and phenolic ripeness — a promising sign for the vintage ahead.

We’ll be sharing updates throughout the season, so keep an eye on our social channels for a closer look at the journey from vineyard to bottle.