Food & Wine reports that experts interviewed for its 28 September article have found no evidence of smoke taint affecting Bordeaux’s 2026 vintage, despite extensive summer wildfires. Most vineyards were sufficiently distant from the fires, according to those interviewed. The article explains that smoke compounds can become apparent during fermentation, with reds particularly vulnerable because of prolonged skin contact. Heat appears to have been the greater influence this year, with richer wines expected alongside better-preserved acidity than some producers anticipated.
Wildfires
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Researchers Make Progress Towards Turning Smoke-Affected Grapes into Quality Sparkling Wine
The University of Tasmania reports new results from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’s long-term research into whether bushfire smoke-affected grapes can still be used to produce acceptable sparkling wine. Researchers simulated vineyard smoke exposure by treating grapes for three hours with smoke generated from local native wood and leaf litter, then made sparkling wines containing controlled levels of smoke taint. PhD researcher Alison Ctercteko reports that experimental treatments can remove smoke-taint compounds, although the central challenge is reducing those undesirable compounds without simultaneously stripping desirable Pinot noir and Chardonnay aromas. The work forms part of a 10-year trial examining both mitigation methods and how smoke compounds affect sparkling wine during ageing, with the current results described as promising but not yet presented as a finished solution. The University published the research update on 23 September 2026, with a contemporaneous release timestamped 10:37 am AEST.
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Wildfires Threaten Wineries as Blaze Nears Bordeaux
The Drinks Business reports that wildfires have moved to within approximately 15 kilometres of Bordeaux, raising concerns about possible smoke taint in grapes destined for the 2026 vintage. More than 220,000 people have reportedly been evacuated in France, while hot, dry conditions and shifting winds are hampering firefighting operations in Gironde. The immediate effect on vineyards remains uncertain, but producers face a potentially significant quality risk if smoke compounds accumulate in grape skins.