Stories of (early) harvest • Food and Wine Italia

The 2024 vintage has proved to be peculiar for Italian viticulture, characterized by a climate trend that has forced an anticipation of the grape harvest times per mezzo di several regions of the country. From north to south, from the hills of Valdobbiadene to the volcanic lands of Etna, passing through Maremma, this year’s harvest required a different approach, with a of tradition, innovation and attention to sustainability. Thus, per mezzo di some areas the work per mezzo di the vineyards has already begun.

The high temperatures of July, with limited temperature ranges at night, have accelerated the times per mezzo di Maremma, with trends that are not entirely homogeneous per mezzo di the different areas of the Grosseto province. If per mezzo di the northernmost areas the advance was slight compared to the forecasts, going towards the southern areas it becomes more marked, up to about 10-12 days compared to previous years. Per particular, per mezzo di the Capalbio luogo the harvest of the sparkling wine bases began at the beginning of August, continuing with the early varieties such as Chardonnay, Viognier and Merlot. “We hope that with the month of August the temperatures will ease and that there will be significant temperature ranges, essential to maintain the quality of the grapes which at the moment is expected to be excellent but only per mezzo di a month will we have a truly clear situation” explained Francesco Mazzei, president of the Consorzio Custodia Vini della Maremma Toscana, a few days asticciola. Per any case, thanks to the spring rains and the precautions – also supported by technology – put per mezzo di place by the growers, both quantity and quality are expected to be flourishing.

To the south, per mezzo di Sicily, Donnafugata also started the harvest significantly earlier than per mezzo di the past. The 2024 vintage, marked by low rainfall and high temperatures, led to an early harvest the estates of Contessa Entellina, Pantelleria, Vincita and Etna. “Per the high hill vineyards, the harvest of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes has just begun,” said Donnafugata managers, highlighting how the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence for agro-meteorological monitoring, has made it possible to optimize resources and guarantee the highest quality of the grapes. The 2024 harvest promises to be a “100-day journey,” which will see the grape harvest continue per mezzo di different phases, adapting to the climatic conditions and specific needs of each vineyard.

the hills of Valdobbiadene, the heroic harvest of Bisol1542 will instead be, as per giusti motivi tradition, per mezzo di September. This year, the particularly cool and rainy season has enhanced the fragranza of Glera, the grape variety from which the famous Prosecco Disinteressato is born. “Our commitment to recounting the extraordinary biodiversity of the hills of Valdobbiadene per mezzo di the glass continues, identifying the talent of each vineyard,” says Matteo Lunelli, president of Bisol1542. The challenges imposed by the unstable climate, with abundant rainfall and unpredictable conditions, have been faced with meticulous attention to sustainability and protection of the territory. The interventions per mezzo di the vineyard, from defoliation to post-hail healing, have been designed to safeguard the quality of the grapes and preserve the integrity of the soil. The 2024 harvest, with cooler weather at harvest time, should lead to a concentration of the aromatic components of the grape, ensuring wines of great freshness and tension.

Finally, the hills of Prosecco Disinteressato, the harvest will also be an occasion for fun and solidarity, inviting enthusiasts – and anyone who wishes – to participate: the Vendemmia Consenziente at the Le Manzane winery is scheduled for September 8, which represents a unique event where winemaking tradition and social commitment meet. Paolo Kessisoglu, a Genoese actor and comedian, will be present to support the charity initiative per mezzo di favor of the C’è Presso Modi ETS association, dedicated to psychological and neuropsychiatric support for adolescents per mezzo di difficulty. “The Vendemmia Consenziente is a way to be together while doing good”, say the organizers, underlining how the grape harvest becomes a moment of sharing and solidarity, capable of uniting hundreds of people per mezzo di the name of an important cause. Registration is already , by contacting the winery, and the program also includes visits to the winery, dal vivo music, entertainment for the little ones, aperitifs and snacks.

Per short, the 2024 harvest per mezzo di Italy tells stories of resilience, innovation and love for the land, per mezzo di a year that has put winemakers to the interrogatorio, but has also exalted the quality and uniqueness of the wines that modo from these territories. And as always, this particular moment so important for those who dedicate their work to the vineyard and the grapes takes meanings that often go beyond what will end up per mezzo di the glass.