Harvest usually happens in

• A. August
• B. October
• C. September
• D. November

Answer: (C)

Grapes for sparkling wine in temperate climates are picked when they reach the right balance of sugars for fermentation and enough acidity to keep the wine fresh. In Champagne and similar regions, that balance typically occurs in September, after the growing season has matured but before the year gets too cool. August is often still early, when flavors aren’t fully developed and acidity might be higher or the sugars lower than desired. Harvesting later, in October or November, carries more risk of weather damage and can lead to overripe flavors and reduced acidity, which is not ideal for the crisp profile of the style. So September is the common window because it best aligns with achieving the needed ripeness and acidity for high-quality sparkling wine.