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ITALY 2026 HARVEST

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Vines and winegrowers rise to the climate challenge together: resilience, careful observation and precision underpin quality in a hot season marked by an early harvest.

Italy’s 2026 harvest tells the story of a hot growing season that brought picking forward in many areas. Despite the challenges, producers report healthy grapes and encouraging early signs of balance, freshness and precision in the first wines.

Winter and spring rainfall replenished soil water reserves in several areas, helping sustain the vines throughout the summer. In many vineyards, the vines showed encouraging resilience in the warm weather, supported by attentive vineyard management and carefully judged harvest timing.

Some estates reported one of their earliest harvests on record. Local conditions — such as altitude, differences between day and night temperatures, cooling breezes and timely rainfall — helped shape the outcome. Winegrowers’ ability to understand their vineyards and respond promptly was equally important.

From north to south, these accounts suggest a vintage shaped by both local growing conditions and the decisions made in response to them: observing the vines, tracking ripening closely, acting promptly when necessary and allowing more time where conditions permitted. The shared goal was to preserve acidity, elegance and each wine’s distinctive character.

Here are the perspectives of 20 wineries from across Italy, offering their first assessments of the vintage as grapes arrived in the cellar. gathered in light of the first grapes to reach the cellar.

TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE

Cantina Terlano and Cantina Andriano

The harvest began slightly earlier than usual in Terlano and Andriano, with picking starting on 18 August. Early indications of quality are very positive. “The wines,” explains oenologist Rudi Kofler, “display a well-balanced aromatic profile, with ripe fruit complemented by fresh notes.” Overall yields remain in line with the average. At higher altitudes, ripening progressed more slowly, and the harvest concluded in early October.

Cantina Kaltern

In Kaltern (Caldaro) too, high temperatures accelerated the growing cycle, bringing the harvest forward. The area’s range of altitudes proved to be a decisive asset: the higher-altitude sites delivered particularly impressive results for the white wines, which show a good balance of ripeness, acidity and aromatic precision. The red grapes reached full phenolic maturity, yielding wines with intensity, structure and concentration.

“Choosing the right time to harvest was crucial in maintaining the balance between concentration, elegance and freshness,” explains Thomas Scarizuola, cellar master (Kellermeister). “Conditions during the harvest were virtually ideal, and yields are satisfactory and well balanced.”

Pacher.Huber

“The harvest was brought forward by a few days following the hailstorm on 31 August that narrowly missed our vineyards. Throughout September, most of the vineyards enjoyed ideal weather conditions, with night-time temperatures of around 8°C and daytime temperatures ranging from 24 to 26°C. The bunches brought into the cellar, starting with those from our highest-altitude plots at 800–970 metres above sea level, were beautiful and ripe,” says Andreas Huber, who, together with his sister Katharina Huber, is the driving force behind the wines of the historic family farmstead (maso). “The final days of the harvest are always dedicated to Riesling, which has just been picked,” concludes the producer.

San Leonardo

At San Leonardo, the experience of 2026 shows that a vintage cannot be read solely through the lens of early ripening. After picking the first Merlot grapes on 27 August, the estate chose to pause and wait: the main harvest began around 7 September, while Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon followed at an even more leisurely pace.

“Despite a very hot summer, the estate’s location and the shade provided by the mountains protected the vines. The grapes were particularly healthy, beautiful and abundant, while alcohol levels remain surprisingly moderate, often at around 12.5% vol.,” explains producer Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga.

LOMBARDY

Mosnel

In Franciacorta, the intense heat significantly accelerated ripening: the harvest, which began on 3 August and ended on 17 August, was the earliest in Mosnel’s history.

“It was a demanding vintage, requiring great care both in the vineyard and in the cellar, where even cooling the musts proved challenging,” says Giulio Barzanò. “The initial results are encouraging, however: the scents and aromas of the wines give us reason to be optimistic, while we await the first tastings and assessments, which will allow us to define the character of the vintage more precisely.”

LIGURIA

LVNAE

In Liguria too, despite a summer marked by above-average temperatures, the vines showed no significant signs of stress. LVNAE reports healthy, undamaged grapes, harvested plot by plot according to their varying levels of ripeness. Initial impressions from the winery point above all to a good balance between alcohol and acidity.

“In the first Vermentino wines, the aromas are refined and elegant, offering promising indications of the character of the vintage,” confirms Diego Bosoni.

PIEDMONT

Pio Cesare

The 2026 harvest was probably the earliest ever for this historic winery in Alba. “Last winter’s rainfall proved invaluable, replenishing the soil’s water reserves and enabling the vines to withstand the long, harsh summer,” explains Federica Boffa Pio. The growing cycle began early and was unusually short. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were the first grapes to be harvested, on 12 August, followed over the following weeks by Dolcetto, Barbera and Timorasso.

“As for the Nebbiolo destined for Barolo production, the harvest was just completed in early October.” Meanwhile, the white wines have completed fermentation, and first impressions are highly encouraging: they are well structured, yet “with a very pleasing freshness”.

Parusso

“The grape harvest is progressing well,” says Marco Parusso. “Despite the high temperatures, the work carried out in the vineyard over recent years has enabled us to support the ripening process without bringing the harvest forward excessively. In fact, we are almost in line with last year’s schedule.”

The differences between day and night temperatures in recent weeks, ranging from 12°C at night to 28°C during the day, are also helping the grapes through the final stages of ripening. With the harvest of the white grapes, Barbera and the Nebbiolo destined for Langhe Nebbiolo now complete, picking of the grapes destined for Barolo began in early October. “At the moment, the grapes look beautiful, while the foliage is naturally beginning to lose its deepest green colour: signs of well-advanced phenolic ripeness, with the tannins becoming sweeter and softer and the acidity gradually coming into balance. The current conditions therefore make us very confident about the quality of the vintage.”

TUSCANY

Biondi-Santi

In Montalcino, the grape harvest is guided by sensitivity and careful attention to the vineyard. Oenologist Federico Radi explains: “In a very sunny and hot vintage, within a constantly evolving climatic context , the aim is to preserve the estate’s style by seeking the greatest possible balance in the grapes. There is therefore no fixed formula, but rather constant observation of the vines, guiding everything from canopy management to the choice of harvest date for each plot and picking during the coolest hours of the day.”

It is a dynamic relationship between people and nature, in which technical skill and experience are used to listen to and interpret the vineyard, preserving acidity and freshness without compromising full ripeness. “The first vinifications are yielding a Sangiovese that is poised, fine and polished, offering great pleasure and elegance,” continues the oenologist.

Even amid the challenges posed by climate change, Biondi-Santi continues to evolve while remaining true to the identity and style that set it apart.

Giodo

At Giodo, the estate owned by Carlo Ferrini and his daughter Bianca, the harvest took place, as usual, in the first few weeks of September. After the heat, rainfall in late July and mid-August helped restore balance in the vineyard, creating favourable conditions for the final stages of ripening.

“Our Sangiovese grapes arrived at the winery healthy and of excellent quality, with yields only slightly below average,” says technical director Riccardo Ferrari. The first wines drawn off their skins reveal intense red-fruit aromas and good structure, but above all the elegance that is a hallmark of Giodo’s wines. “We are very pleased with the result!”

Isole e Olena

At Isole e Olena, in Chianti Classico, the 2026 vintage proved particularly challenging. A very hot and dry season called for great adaptability and the ability to act at precisely the right moment, even when conditions required a departure from the usual approach.

The harvest began on 10 August with the Chardonnay, under clear skies, and concluded on 22 September, just as a sudden hailstorm arrived.

“It was a challenge, but we brought some beautiful grapes into the cellar,” says Emanuele Reolon, the estate director. “The grapes were healthy and, above all, showed a surprisingly good overall level of ripeness. In terms of quantity, the lower berry weight resulted in a more modest yield, while initial tasting impressions are very positive.”

Bertinga

Bertinga, in Chianti Classico, benefited from the altitude of its vineyards and the capacity of its soils to sustain the vines through the intense heat. The grapes were in excellent condition at harvest.

“The drop in night-time temperatures during the final weeks, together with the good day-night temperature swings, favoured phenolic ripening, allowing us to achieve a convincing balance between ripeness and alcohol levels,” says oenologist Elisa Ascani. The grapes already in the cellar show considerable promise. The harvest concluded on 29 September.

Arillo in Terrabianca

For Arillo in Terrabianca, 2026 was characterised by a cold, rainy winter, followed by temperatures well above average from mid-June onwards. The distinct soils and climates in Radda in Chianti, Massa Marittima and Pienza (the three areas where Arillo’s vineyards are located) shaped the vines’ response to this change in weather.

Overall, faster grape ripening advanced the harvest by around ten days, while rainfall between late August and early September helped to restore balance to the ripening process. Winemaker Vieri Vannoni explains: “In the Maremma, yields were slightly lower, but quality is high; in the Val d’Orcia and Radda in Chianti, on the other hand, yields were good and ripening was more uniform.” The harvest has just been completed.

Querciabella

Two very different weather phases shaped the harvest at Querciabella. In Chianti Classico, the first grapes were picked relatively early, but the arrival of September rains, together with a marked drop in night-time temperatures, subsequently slowed the pace of picking.

With nearly 100 mm of rainfall over the course of the month, winemaker Manfred Ing was able to extend the harvest and allow the remaining grapes more time to ripen. “As of 25 September, around 40% of the grapes were still on the vine. The plots between 300 and 400 metres above sea level had mostly been harvested, while at altitudes of 450 metres and above, the grapes were benefiting from a longer ripening period. We could afford to be patient thanks to the favourable weather conditions, allowing the fruit to develop greater depth and concentration while retaining freshness.”

Castello di Querceto

The 2026 grape harvest began around ten days earlier than in recent years, following the hot weather in July and August. “We began on 7 September, with very promising results in terms of quality: the grapes were healthy and fully ripe,” explains producer Simone François.

Yields were expected to be modest, as the berries had remained small due to the lack of rainfall over the preceding two months. “Sangiovese has been in the cellar for several days now, and we have just finished harvesting the later-ripening varieties, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, in early October.”

Fattoria Le Pupille

Ninety-three hectares of vineyards, harvested by hand over 44 days, tell the story of a demanding vintage, shaped by daily decisions, hard work in the vineyard and constant adjustments to bring out the best in each variety and each plot.

“The grapes were healthy at harvest, but the sun and, above all, the high night-time temperatures in August placed the vines under considerable strain.” The white grapes were of very good quality, while Sangiovese and Syrah gave excellent results. Cabernet Sauvignon and some Merlot, on the other hand, were more severely affected by the heat. Technical Director Ettore Arturo Rizzi’s assessment remains very positive: “In such a demanding vintage, the ability to observe and intervene at the right moment can lead to highly expressive wines.”

Castello di Vicarello

At Castello di Vicarello, the key to the harvest was the ability to monitor ripening closely and act at the right moment.

“The water reserves accumulated over winter and spring, combined with soil management designed to retain water at depth, enabled the vines to withstand the summer while maintaining an active canopy. The grapes were shaded by the leaves to preserve their aromas and acidity,” explains producer Brando Baccheschi Berti. With the grapes ripening very rapidly, the harvest was brought forward by around ten days to avoid overripe notes and preserve the freshness and integrity of the fruit.

“The grapes had firm skins, and the first wines are showing good acidity, with pH values gradually approaching the expected levels, alongside fruity and spicy profiles with no perceptible alcoholic heat,” adds winemaker Maurizio Saettini. “Yields are lower than expected, but we consider the quality to be very high.”

Arsenio

“Every harvest needs to be understood and managed in its own way. The 2026 vintage was hot and dry, and the grapes across all our vineyards ripened almost simultaneously. We began the harvest almost a month earlier than in 2025, working in step with the vines’ natural rhythms. Much of the work had already been done before harvest, through crop thinning and canopy management during the heatwaves. We adapted to nature and brought some remarkable grapes into the cellar,” explains Arsen Khachaturyants, a young producer whose vineyards are located on the slopes of Fiesole and in Volterra.

APULIA

Tenuta Liliana

In Salento, the growing season was marked by a hot, dry summer, tempered by sea breezes. The grapes were in excellent condition at harvest, with moderate yields and good concentration. Harvesting began slightly earlier than usual, with Sauvignon Blanc in the first ten days of August, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon for rosé and then the grapes destined for red wine.

“Initial indications point to full ripeness and depth, without any loss of freshness or tension, with well-preserved natural acidity and favourable prospects for balanced, long-lived wines,” confirms oenologist Andrea Fattizzo.

The 2025 Harvest Wins Unanimous Praise.

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Compact, expressive and full of promise

From South Tyrol to Sicily, the verdict on the 2025 harvest was consistent: a slightly early, compact vintage, handled by producers with perfect timing and great professionalism, bringing grapes of remarkable quality to the cellars.

The result is wines with a balanced profile and excellent prospects for the future. Quality prevailed over quantity.

Below are the statements from the producers:

Northern Italy

In Trentino-Alto Adige, the pace was intense from the very first days of harvest.

At Cantina Terlano and Cantina Andriano, the 2025 vintage was marked by a rapid harvest. The clusters reached full ripeness early, with excellent grape quality. The heatwave in early August accelerated ripening and, as Kellermeister Rudi Kofler notes, “gave us grapes with great concentration”. Harvest began on August 26, and the slightly unstable weather at the beginning of September did not affect grape quality.

Also at Cantina Kaltern, picking was compact and intense, starting on August 25. A few rain showers complicated logistics, but “once again, our members’ dedication demonstrated our efficiency,” says Thomas Scarizuola, Kellermeister. In the cellar, early tastings suggest expressive and well-structured wines, with Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Schiava, and Lagrein standing out.

At San Leonardo, the harvest traditionally begins in late August or early September with Sauvignon Blanc and ends around October 10 with Carmenère. 2025 followed that pattern. “It was a distinctive year climatically, not excessively hot, but with abundant rainfall. The yield was modest, but the quality was excellent,” says Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga. “So far, the wines in the cellar show brilliant colours and intense aromas.”

In Franciacorta, Mosnel faced a challenging but rewarding year, beginning harvest on August 12 with Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero. By late September, the last variety, Erbamat, had reached the cellar. “All grapes were very healthy, ripe, and of exceptional quality,” says Giulio Barzanò. “In the cellar, our first impressions are excellent: the diversity of varietal expressions suggests a long-lived vintage.”

In Piedmont, on the Bussia hills of Barolo, Parusso also experienced high summer temperatures, followed by alternating warm and cool September days. On September 24, a drop to 10°C created ideal conditions for refining the aromas and tannin ripeness of Nebbiolo. Harvest ended in early October. “The grapes are ripe, healthy, smaller, and looser than usual, with a good sugar-acid balance. Everything points to an excellent vintage; in a few months, we’ll see how well we’ve captured it,” says Marco Parusso.

In Liguria, LVNAE began picking just after August 15 with grapes destined for its Metodo Classico sparkling wine. By late August, Vermentino was harvested, starting from the lower areas and gradually moving uphill. “We were able to work precisely and harvest each plot at optimal ripeness. The condition of the grapes was perfect: intact and of high quality,” says Diego Bosoni. A few rainy days caused brief interruptions, but the mild climate around Luni was once again favourable. “We believe this could be one of the most interesting vintages of the last four or five years,” he concludes.

Central Italy

In Chianti Classico, Castello di Querceto reported healthy, perfectly ripe grapes of high quality. “The yield,” notes Simone François, “was smaller, especially for Sangiovese, as the berries were not particularly large. We have the feeling this will rank among the best vintages of recent years.”

“It was a summer we haven’t seen in a long time,” says Emanuele Reolon, director of Isole e Olena. “The grapes ripened evenly and completely, promising an excellent vintage.”

At Bertinga, both Merlot and Sangiovese were harvested between late September and early October. “Low temperatures at the end of September were crucial for Sangiovese, ensuring perfect ripeness and health,” explains production manager Elisa Ascani.

At Castello di Fonterutoli and Ipsus, Giovanni Mazzei reports: “2025 was an ideal year with a classic climate reminiscent of the 1980s, something we hadn’t experienced for decades. We harvested perfect grapes with high acidity and low pH. We expect elegant, aromatic wines with crisp freshness and silky tannins. We’re very pleased.”

For Arillo in Terrabianca, the harvest concluded on October 10with great satisfaction. The Terrabianca vineyard in Radda in Chianti was, as usual, the last to be picked. The Sangiovese reached full ripeness, rich in aromas and ready to produce elegant, age-worthy wines.

In the Brunello area, Biondi-Santi’s director of viticulture and oenology Federico Radi notes that the 2025 harvest “shows all the key quality parameters. It is not a particularly high-alcohol vintage; on the contrary, the grapes show remarkable freshness, and excellent pH values – perfectly in line with what we want for a Biondi-Santi wine.” The summer was moderate, with only two to three weeks of intense heat that actually favoured vine growth. “We were under no pressure; the weather allowed for thoughtful decision-making,” Radi concludes.

At Giodo, harvest began in the second week of September. “The grapes showed crispness and elegance, suggesting great longevity for the Sangiovese,” says Bianca Ferrini. “It’s an important vintage: we are extremely satisfied with the work carried out throughout the year and confident that it will yield outstanding, age-worthy wines.”

In Maremma, at Fattoria Le Pupille, sun and heat in late August accelerated ripening, which then slowed with September rains. “It’s striking how harvest patterns have shifted – rainfall now plays a growing role, whereas before 2023 it usually came only in autumn,” observes winemaker Ettore Rizzi.  “The grape quality is very high: Sangiovese shows small but concentrated berries, resulting in slightly below-average yields but excellent balance and moderate alcohol.”

At Castello di Vicarello, yields were also lower than expected, but the wines show lively acidity, fine phenolic ripeness, and slightly lower concentration – resulting in lower alcohol content. “They’re more approachable wines, in line with today’s market preferences,” observes Brando Baccheschi Berti. “We expect good longevity and elegant, fresh and spicy aromas.”

In Val d’Orcia, at Tenuta di Trinoro, harvest began on September 8 with Semillon, followed by Merlot on the 18 – 20, just before a week of rain. “We started at dawn to pick as cool as possible, stopping by 10:30 a.m. when the sun became too strong,” recounts Benjamin Franchetti. The first Cabernet Franc grapes were brought to the cellar in early October, “starting from lower vineyards and moving uphill. We picked in true autumn weather, dry and breezy from the north wind, allowing us to wait for the perfect moment in each plot. We concluded on October 10 with Petit Verdot from the higher vineyards.

Southern Italy

In Sicily, Tasca d’Almerita reports a long, overlapping harvest across its five estates, spanning over ninety days. “A mosaic of harvests,” they explain, “that after the climatic extremes of past years, brings freshness, complexity, and balance.” The musts show vibrant acidity and full phenolic ripeness, producing authentic wines deeply rooted in their terroir. The season began under excellent conditions: generous winter rains and spring showers built precious water reserves even in the southernmost vineyards. Though the Sicilian summer was hot, significant day-night temperature swings – over 21°C in July at Tenuta Regaleali – preserved freshness, acidity, and aromatic complexity.

“The 2025 production is in line with expectations,” confirms Alberto Tasca d’Almerita. “The white musts show a harmonious sugar-acid balance with floral and fruity notes, while the red ones achieved full phenolic ripeness, excellent concentration, and structure. We’re now awaiting the final picking on Mount Etna, where harvest is still underway…”
In Apulia, Tenuta Liliana finishes the harvest with enthusiasm: “An excellent vintage, marked by pronounced acidity, moderate alcohol, and promising aromas: wines with a Mediterranean yet modern character,” says producer Antonio Intiglietta. The 2025 harvest brought ripe white grapes with outstanding acidity. The red harvest began on September 10 with perfect fruit that benefited from the month’s sharp temperature contrasts.  

2021 Growing Year in Italy: What to expect

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The life-force of the vine vs climate changes

High quality anticipated in the wine-cellar

Harvest is literally upon us with some white grapes already safely in the cellar and several red grape varieties being picked at this very moment. But it’s still too early to draw any definitive conclusions about the 2021 harvest, since producers up and down the peninsula are still relying on predictions. Which, however, are encouragingly positive.

Let’s give a brief overview of the growing season. The weather brought three distinctive phenomena that had critical impacts. A spring freeze plunged temperatures that delayed bud-break and shoot growth by some 10 days, whose effects are still being felt in the current ripening stage, while the south suffered under water deprivation and the north was hit by torrential rains. The common thread that emerged from these challenges, though, was the current outstanding health status and overall quality of the fruit, a situation that augurs well for fine wines from 2021. Delivering the best results seem to have been the most ecologically-sensitive vineyard operations and precision agricultural practices, approaches that protect and express terroir in the face of increasingly threatening climate changes.   

We asked producers from north to south what they thought and how they were managing to transform climate threats into quality outcomes.

NORTH

In Trentino, at the historic San Leonardo wine estate, owner Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga reports that “the year opened cold and very rainy, which tried us no end. Then, in early August, the weather really began to smile on us, and we are continuing even now to enjoy fabulous, sunny days, with significant day-night temperature differentials as wide as 18oC. If September follows the same pattern, we have a realistic hope of bringing in a truly superb harvest.” 

Over in Lombardy, in the Oltrepò Pavese hills, the 200 hectares of Conte Vistarino allow a clear picture of overall prospects for the general area. Ottavia Giorgi enthuses: “We have extreme expectations for this harvest, which promises to be even better than we could imagine.” Brimming groundwater reserves, crisp spring weather, painstaking attention to vine-row vegetation, and a healthy status of the clusters harken back to the 2018 season, while the tannins look to be finer-grained than in preceding years. The white grapes are currently exhibiting outstanding pH and acidities, which bodes well for the sparkling base wines as well. “We are expecting very heightened aromatics and crisp acidities in our Pinot Noir, a gift of those quite wide temperature differentials in the hot summer months.”  

TUSCANY

In the Colli Fiorentini, just outside Florence, at Torre a Cona, Niccolò Rossi di Montelera has expectations for “a good quality vintage but for a crop smaller than in 2019 and 2020. Reflecting this growing season’s characteristics, the harvest will kick off slightly later than in previous vintages, beginning with Merlot in the latter half of September, while Sangiovese and Colorino will wait until the end of the month.” 

At Castello di Brolio, one of Chianti Classico’s iconic estates, Francesco Ricasoli explains that the year has brought a one-two punch of freezes and hot spells. “Still, our white grapes, which were picked already in late August, are superb, in both quality and quantity. We expect to bring in our Sangiovese around mid-September; the crop will be down a bit, but quality definitely up. Cluster size is somewhat small, as in 2017, but they show deeper colour, aromatic intensity, and better concentration.” 

Just a few kilometres away, Giovanni Mazzei underscores that the current season “is yet more proof of our vines’ ability to withstand challenging weather conditions thrown at them.” In particular, in the Siepi zone, “where deep soils and a high percentage of clay help retain much more moisture than other areas, a generous water supply for the roots and wide day-night temperature ranges are ensuring excellent ripeness levels.”    

At Castello di Querceto in Greve in Chianti, the unfavourable weather phenomena reduced the crop load by about 10%. Alessandro François is cautious about making any definitive judgments. While waiting to see what the next few weeks will bring, he says that “quality looks very good, but our Sangiovese growing at 400-520 metres still needs more time.”

The heat spells impacted Gaiole in Chianti, too, but director Luca Vitiello of Bertinga explains that “good canopy management protected the clusters and careful ground-working allowed the vines to recently complete veraison, a bit late perhaps, but with no excessive stress. These are the foundations for an excellent harvest, which we are looking for in the next days of September for the Merlot vineyards and the first half of October for Sangiovese.”  

Moving into Montalcino, Emilia Nardi, owner of Tenute Silvio Nardi, tells us that “thanks to our 2020 post-harvest operations, the vines enjoyed a plentiful supply of water, which allowed them to handle this season’s lack of it. Right now, the fruit shows surprisingly good balance and the vines good canopy development.”

Heading towards the Tuscan coast, where the vineyards of the Tenuta di Ghizzano lie in the Pisan hills, Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini declares herself satisfied, since “the white grape varieties are in very good shape indeed. For some of the reds, however, the situation is somewhat more complicated. The Merlot is already in the cellar, and the quality seems quite high, but we’re hoping for a bit more rain, which would give our Sangiovese perfect phenolic ripeness.” Rains have already been of providential help this year, and “our clay-rich soils were able to absorb the rains we saw in May, which helped the vines cope with the summer drought.”   

In Riparbella, the just-emerging Colline Albelle operation uses one of its tools, dry-farming, to prevent heat stress. Winery director and winemaker Julian Renaud explains that “we also mow the cover-crop in mid-May, leaving everything on the ground, we keep canes short to prevent evapo-transpiration, do no leaf-pulling, and we utilise biodynamic preparations. All that helps us maintain optimal balance in the vineyards and a very gradual ripening process. This year, we expect about a 15-day delay in starting our harvest.” 

Along the same coast, in Bolgheri, Ornellaia director Axel Heinz, notes that its unique configuration of quite deep soils with high percentages of clay and limestone encourages the vine roots to go deep in search of water, which helps them resist the long stretches of dryness here. In addition, “Our sunny, dry conditions help the early-developing white varieties to fully ripen.” And finally, a drop in temperatures created “ideal conditions for the final stage of ripening, thus giving the red varieties all the time they needed to reach perfect ripeness.”

In the Maremma, the Fattoria Le Pupille team can draw a sigh of relief at what promises at this moment to be a great vintage. “The rains in mid-July gave us a welcome boost, relieving the heat stress and bringing the growing year to a blessed close.” A stance of hope, therefore, from Ettore Rizzi, estate agronomist and oenologist of the estate founded by Elisabetta Geppetti.

Also in the Maremma is Castello di Vicarello, where the hillslope position of the vineyards was proof against the spring freezes, and in the summer ensured them cool night-time temperatures that warded off heat stress. Brando Baccheschi Berti evinces pronounced satisfaction over fruit quality: “Wonderful acidities and full berries, proof that our old, deep-rooted vines are holding up well. My impression is that it’s going to be a beautiful vintage.” 

In the Val d’Orcia, finally, with benchmark operation Tenuta di Trinoro, a textbook-perfect vintage is expected. Here, too, the difficult weather brought challenges, but director Calogero Portannese expresses strong confidence in those “significant day-night temperature variations, which encouraged impressively-high quality in the fruit. Still, the harvest is a ways off yet, and we have to wait to see what autumn will finally bring us.”  

SICILY and SARDINIA

Over the sea in Sardinia’s Gallura district, Massimo Ruggero, managing director of Siddùra, explains that the area did experience the spring freezes, but the impact was not severe, “thanks to our particular climate here in this valley, our crop was down just slightly compared to the previous year. Overall grape health is good, and the final crop should almost equal that of 2020.” 

Let’s conclude our journey in Sicily. Mount Etna suffered a torrid, dry summer, and Vincenzo Lo Mauro, director of Passopisciaro, helped the vines by supplying night-time emergency irrigation. “The Chardonnay harvest started early, right after mid-August. The grapes were in wonderful condition, heathy and aromatic, and they’ll give us a very intense, firm-structured wine. Regarding the reds, we’re hoping the heat will drop and that we’ll receive some rainfall, which will help them get to that perfect point of ripeness.”

And now, there’s nothing we can do but wait.

Harvest 2018 in Brazil: the best of decade

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The Miolo Winery is close to finishing the 2018 harvest with a realization: for at least 6 years there was no climate so favorable for the quality of the vintage in Rio Grande do Sul. So far, in this decade, there were 2 harvests of exceptional quality: 2011 and 2012, but none will exceed the quality of 2018. In the 3 projects of Miolo in RS were collected 2/3 of the total estimated, which is 6.2 million kilos of grapes. In this way, it is already possible to safely assert its superior quality.

Climatic behavior x grape quality of the 2018 harvest

The winter of 2017 was one of the mildest in recent years, with a low accumulation of cold hours (below 7.2 ° C). Initially this caused a lot of fear, as it could generate negative reflexes in the breakage of the dormancy of the grape buds, interfering in the volume of production in 2018. However, the good phytosanitary status of the vines crown in the post-harvest of 2017 compensated for the lack of cold and the sprouting was vigorous and uniform. The less intense cold of the winter and the spring with favorable temperatures triggered the beginning of the sprouting, with 15 to 20 days of anticipation in most of the varieties.

The spring passed in the normal way, with no ups and downs of temperature, which led to continuous growth of the vegetation and flowering within the expected. Due to the reduced winter cold, some varieties showed fewer flowers per bunch, leaving them a little more “thin”, which influenced a lower average weight. In contrast, it provided a maturation with optimum quality and sanity in the early grapes, usually of more compacted bunches and susceptible to rot.

The rains of spring and early summer also occurred within the normal climate and only in October there was a week with slightly more intense rains that did not cause damage to the varieties that were still flowering.

The summer has been raining well below average due to the influence of the phenomenon “La Niña”, with very positive effects on the quality and sanity of the grape. The nocturnal mild temperatures are being a constant in the maturation period, with average thermal amplitude of 16 ° C, reaching in some cases to exceed 20 ° C, thus favoring the accumulation of coloring matter in the red varieties.

2017 Eu wine grape harvest: the lowest in 36 years

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2017 seems the poorest wine grape harvest in 36 years, this caused by heavy hailstorms, late frosts in spring and a hot, dry summer.

According to the European Commission, production of pressed juice, or must, in Spain was set to be down 16 percent from 2015/2016 volumes. In France it would be 17 percent lower and in Italy down by 21 percent. Wine must production across the 28 members of the EU is seen at 145.1 million hectoliters, down 14 percent from the 2015/2016 level.

Harvest 2012 in Italy: less quantity… extraordinary quality!

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Time of harvest in Italy! We eagerly await the results of the 2012 harvest, not only because the wine is the first Italian ambassador of Made in Italy in the world, but also because the sector has become a major economic reality in the agricultural sector.

Wine in Italy represents around 700,000 hectares of cultivated area, of which more than 70% of the areas belong to 500 DOC, DOCG and IGT which since last year have been aligned with the European PDO and PGI. According to Massimo Toso, head of the technical area in Cossano Belbo of Toso sparkling wine, the Moscato vintage 2012 has been developed with particular “slowness”, aided by the period of cold and rain that accompanied the last part of august and the first week of september. 

Among Moscato and Brachetto we notice differences: Brachetto has benefited only partly of the cooling of the end of August because in several vineyards (more than 50%) the harvest had already been completed. Moscato, however, has concentrated the largest proportion of its harvest after the beginning of september, taking full advantage of this more favorable climate. The main problems found with Brachetto grapes are derived from the fact that the hills of Acqui Terme (Piedmont) -where the most Bracchetto grapes were planted,  have benefited from low rainfall, such as Valle Belbo and the area around Alba in general where there were some refreshing storms in the month of July. 

Quality should be largerly good

Mario Catania, italian minister of Agriculture, meeting in these days regional councillors agriculture, said, “The drought this summer has hit hard in our country, not sparing even the vineyards. We expect the harvest may be, from the quantitative point of view, the lowest in history in Italy. I hope this record won’t have as a result of the lack of quality, but in this respect I say that the technical quality should be largely good, except for extreme situations. In any case we must take note of the ongoing climate change and work towards a more comprehensive policy, in the medium and long-term, to tackle the problem of organic water resources, both in terms of management and infrastructure.”

Optimistic about the quality

The area of ​​Franciacorta already finished the harvest at least two weeks ago says Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, President of Federdoc and producer of Franciacorta and the quality of the grapes is definitely good. The amount of acidic sugar of the grapes is really ideal. Quantitatively, they estimate 30% less than last year. Harvest wasn’t that much anticipated much, because now as the trend which developped in the recent years, we started in the mid of august, adds Ricci Curbastro, but the climate is changing and we must adapt to the changes. “We expect a high quality wine”, confirms Marco Caprai; producer of Umbrian Sagrantino. “We will achieve a great deal but we are optimistic about the quality. The rains in recent weeks have done very well and the heat ventilated during the past few months has avoided the mold. We don’t expect a drop in production. In fact we think we can recover 10 to 15% compared to last year, which was very unfavorable because of the climate of 2011, with sudden heat, that put the last harvest in a real crisis.”

Henry Borzi

2011 VINTAGE AT CHATEAU MALARTIC-LAGRAVIERE, 1st GRAND CRU CLASSE PESSAC-LEOGNAN

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More than a winemakers’ vintage: a vintage that required cool-headedness and a tailored approach!

 

If there are vintages for which the precision of the work in the vineyard is particularly important, then 2011 is a fine example!

 

The dry weather and early development of the vines were key factors for this vintage, and it was thanks to the precision of the work in the vineyard that we were able to extract the full potential of every plot.

 

Leaves were removed in the spring on a parsimonious basis, depending on each vine; the first green harvests take into account the age of the vines and their root development, with a view to avoiding stress. This meticulous work carried out by the Château’s permanent team continued after the beneficial rain in mid-July with a second removal of leaves and thinning of the bunches in August in order ensure uniform ripening, which had been uneven due to the dry weather between May and July. The minimum use of pesticides approach (full ploughing, grassing, no herbicides, mixed hedges surrounding the vineyard…) initiated more than ten years ago also contributes to balanced ripening and the aromatic complexity of the grapes, particularly in the more complicated vintages…

 

At harvest, the grapes had reached optimal ripeness with very satisfactory balances, but selection was still important and extremely thorough. More successive sortings were necessary for the white grapes than for a more classic vintage, and the sorting of the red grapes was a huge task.

 

In the vats, the extractions were slow, but we prefer to let time have its effect… This patience is rewarded because as a result of this slow process, the grapes release silky, beautifully formed tannins.

 

 

 

The wines produced at Malartic-Lagravière in 2011 offer superb purity of fruit, very rich and yet also very refined, accompanied by a silky, elegant, complex tannin structure. Definitely a vintage to taste as soon as you can!

Mrs Severine Bonnie of Chateau malartic-Lagravière with our editor