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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

Heat forces French champagne makers to stiffen their drink

The 2026 harvest was the earliest ever recorded in Champagne
The 2026 harvest was the earliest ever recorded in Champagne © Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP/File

Drinking this year's champagne might give you a heftier headache as France's record heatwaves are forcing some producers to up the alcohol levels, industry officials said Wednesday.

French authorities have allowed champagne houses to make their bubbly with alcohol content of up to 15 percent, a historic first for a wine usually limited to 13 percent.

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