The 2026 harvest is now in full swing , and as harvesting continues in Italy's various wine-growing regions, the first assessments of the vintage's performance are arriving from the local areas. This is a still-evolving picture, characterized by differences related to climate conditions, grape varieties, and varying ripening periods, but one that highlights exciting expectations, especially in terms of quality, in this initial phase.
From North to South, initial impressions gathered from consortia and operators paint a diverse picture, all sharing the need to wait until operations are concluded before making an overall assessment of the vintage.
In the Monferrato and Asti areas , indications for the 2026 harvest outline a particularly positive context, both in terms of quality and production.
" The 2026 harvest presents overall positive characteristics. Despite a season marked by variable weather conditions, the data collected shows an excellent harvest in both quantity and quality. Initial estimates point to a balanced production and very interesting quality prospects, once again confirming the viticultural value of the Monferrato and Asti regions ," comments Filippo Mobrici, president of the Barbera d'Asti and Vini del Monferrato Consortium.
In Alto Piemonte, in the Novara area, the picture is complex: " In the Novara area, the year was unfortunately marked by the violent hailstorm of August 7th, which hit a large portion of the territory, particularly affecting the areas of Ghemme, Sizzano, and Fara. The event caused significant damage, especially in terms of quantity, with a reduction in production in numerous vineyards ," says Andrea Fontana, president of the Consorzio Tutela Nebbioli Alto Piemonte.
" In other areas, however," he continues, "the outlook is decidedly positive. September is showing particularly favorable conditions, thanks to significant temperature variations between day and night that are perfectly accompanying the ripening of the grapes. The yield is also satisfactory and of good quality. Despite a moderate water deficit during the summer, we can expect a harvest capable of producing wines of great structure, balance, and elegance, with excellent quality prospects for the entire region ."
Moving down to Lombardy , in Valtènesi and in the Riviera del Garda Classico area , the harvest began a few days earlier than last year.
" The 2026 harvest in Valtènesi and the Riviera del Garda Classico area began a few days earlier than last year. Initial impressions from the vineyards are decidedly positive and paint a very encouraging picture in terms of quality. The grapes appear healthy, balanced, and perfectly ripe. Despite a slight reduction in yield compared to initial expectations, a consequence of the high temperatures recorded during the season and some weather events affecting the area, we expect wines capable of fully expressing the character of Valtènesi. It's still too early to draw definitive conclusions, but the start of the harvest suggests the promise of a very interesting vintage ," comments Paolo Pasini, president of the Valtènesi Consortium.
Still in Lombardy , in the Oltrepò Pavese area, the harvest has so far confirmed a positive trend.
" The harvest is going very well. The harvest of grapes intended for sparkling wine bases is complete and the quality has proven to be very high, while the harvest of grapes for rosé is still underway. Some problems have been recorded in the eastern part of the region due to recent hailstorms, but it's still too early to quantify their impact. Overall, however, the harvest is proving to be positive ," observes Riccardo Binda, director of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Oltrepò Pavese .
In Emilia-Romagna, in the Castelvetro area, the season begins with a very early but still ongoing harvest for some varieties.
" The 2026 harvest is certainly one of the most challenging in recent years. It is and was not, because, although it arrived much earlier due to the scorching summer temperatures, it is still largely underway in the area, especially with Lambrusco Grasparossa, which will be the last to be harvested. Low acidity and high pH will put the work in the cellar to the test, but our expert cellarmen and winemakers will, as always, know how to best treat the grapes. We expect excellent wines full of personality that reflect and enhance the work in the fields and in the cellar ," emphasizes Alberto Pozzuoli of the Castelvetro VITA Consortium.
In Umbria , the harvest started approximately two weeks earlier than usual.
" In Umbria ," explains Massimo Sepiacci, president of Umbria Top , " the harvest began about two weeks early, and we're currently in full swing, whereas this phase normally came later. The season was marked by drought and a prolonged period of heat, which led to a reduction in production and smaller berries, resulting in a lower grape yield. In terms of quality, however, initial impressions are very positive, and we're confident about the harvest's results ."
The grape harvest also represents an increasingly important moment from a tourism perspective. It comes at a time when wine tourism has become increasingly important in recent years, with visitors interested in experiencing the harvest firsthand in the winery.
" The grape harvest ," says Giovanni Dubini, president of the Umbria Wine Tourism Movement , " has become an increasingly popular wine tourism experience. Indeed, there is a growing number of those choosing to visit wineries during the harvest, to see firsthand the work that goes into making wine and enjoy a hands-on experience with the wineries. This trend is part of a broader shift in tourism, with a growing season and autumn emerging as a particularly favorable time for experiential tourism. The grape harvest is thus also becoming an opportunity to bring visitors to the wineries during a time of year that until recently was less touristy ."
The harvest then reaches Sicily , where the harvest takes place over a particularly long period of time and presents significant differences between the different areas of the island.
" Beginning in the west ," says Alessio Planeta, president of the Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian DOC Wines , " the 2026 harvest has gradually taken shape and color: it is crossing the entire island and will conclude, after about 90 days, in the highest vineyards of northeastern Sicily. It is a journey through an extraordinary variety of soils, altitudes, and grape varieties, involving producers of diverse backgrounds and sizes, united by the ability to interpret the vintage conditions and guide each vineyard towards its best expression .
The overall picture is positive in terms of quality, with encouraging expectations across much of the region. Regarding quantity, it's still too early to make a definitive estimate: the data emerging in the coming weeks will allow for a more accurate assessment. Initial indications, however, suggest a contraction in production volumes, with situations varying from one area to another. This variability reflects the complexity of the Sicilian vineyard, making caution necessary before drawing an overall quantitative assessment of the 2026 harvest .
In the Vittoria area , in south-eastern Sicily, the spring rains allowed for a good water reserve in the sandy-calcareous soils, helping the crops to cope with the high summer temperatures, with peaks above 40°C and minimums constantly above the seasonal average.
" The weather conditions have led to early grape ripening and required careful management of the vine canopy. Estimates for the 2026 harvest indicate a slight reduction in yield, but with a high concentration of aromatic and phenolic compounds in the bunches. The expected quality is excellent: the excellent health of the grapes, combined with the good level of natural acidity preserved by the vines, guarantees ideal conditions for both freshness and wine aging ," concludes Silvio Balloni, president of the Enoteca Regionale della Sicilia – Southeastern branch.
