From Lombardy to Sicily, passing through Piedmont and Umbria, early assessments of the 2026 harvest point to strong quality prospects, while more definitive data on volumes are still awaited
September 24, 2026 (Treviso, Italy) — The 2026 grape harvest is now in full swing and, as picking progresses across Italy’s wine-growing regions, the first assessments of the vintage are beginning to emerge. While the picture is still evolving and marked by differences related to climate conditions, grape varieties and ripening timelines, the initial outlook highlights particularly encouraging expectations from a quality standpoint.
From north to south, the first impressions gathered from consortia and industry operators paint different pictures, all sharing the need to wait until harvest operations are completed before delivering a comprehensive evaluation of the vintage.
In Monferrato and the Asti area, indications for the 2026 harvest outline a particularly positive scenario, both in terms of quality and production volumes.
“The 2026 harvest shows overall positive characteristics. Despite a season marked by variable weather conditions, the data collected so far indicate an excellent harvest in terms of both quantity and quality. Initial estimates suggest balanced production and very promising quality prospects, once again confirming the viticultural value of the Monferrato and Asti area,” comments Filippo Mobrici, President of the Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato.
In Upper Piedmont, in the Novara area, the situation is more complex:
“As far as the Novara area is concerned, the season was unfortunately marked by the severe hailstorm of August 7, which affected a large portion of the territory, particularly the areas of Ghemme, Sizzano and Fara. The event caused significant damage, especially from a quantitative standpoint, reducing production in many vineyards,” states Andrea Fontana, President of the Consorzio Tutela Nebbioli Alto Piemonte.
“In the other areas, however,” he continues,“the outlook is decidedly positive. September has brought particularly favorable conditions, with significant day-night temperature variations supporting optimal grape ripening. Crop loads are 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 throughout the territory.”
Moving to Lombardy, in Valtènesi and the Riviera del Garda Classico area, harvesting began a few days earlier than last year.
“The 2026 harvest in Valtènesi and the Riviera del Garda Classico began several days earlier than in 2025. Initial impressions from the vineyards are very positive and point to a highly encouraging quality profile. The grapes are healthy, balanced and have achieved excellent ripeness levels. Despite a slight reduction in quantities compared to initial expectations, due to high seasonal temperatures and some weather events that affected the area, we expect wines capable of fully expressing the character of Valtènesi. It is still too early for definitive conclusions, but the start of the harvest suggests the conditions for a highly interesting vintage,” comments Paolo Pasini, President of the Consorzio Valtènesi.
Also in Lombardy, in Oltrepò Pavese, the harvest has so far confirmed a positive trend.
“The harvest is progressing very well. Picking for sparkling wine base grapes has been completed, with very high quality results, while harvesting for rosé grapes is still underway. Some issues have occurred in the eastern part of the territory due to recent hailstorms, but it is still too early to quantify their impact. Overall, however, the harvest is proving positive,” notes Riccardo Binda, Director of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Oltrepò Pavese.
In Emilia-Romagna, around Castelvetro, the season is characterized by a very early harvest, although picking is still ongoing for some varieties.
“The 2026 harvest is certainly one of the most challenging of recent years. It has been, and at the same time has not been, because while it started exceptionally early due to the scorching summer temperatures, harvesting is still widely underway, especially for Lambrusco Grasparossa, which will be the last variety to be picked. Low acidity and high pH levels will put wineries to the test, but our cellar masters and winemakers will, as always, know how to handle the grapes in the best way possible. We expect excellent wines with strong personality, capable of reflecting and enhancing the work carried out both in the vineyards and in the cellar,” underlines Alberto Pozzuoli of the Consorzio Castelvetro VITA.
In Umbria, harvesting started around two weeks earlier than usual.
“In Umbria,” explains Massimo Sepiacci, President of Umbria Top,“the harvest began approximately two weeks ahead of schedule, and we are currently in the middle of the picking season. The year was characterized by drought and prolonged heat, leading to lower yields and smaller berries, resulting in reduced production volumes. From a quality perspective, however, our initial impressions are very positive and give us confidence in the outcome of the harvest.”
Harvest time is also becoming increasingly important from a tourism perspective. Harvest activities now take place during a period that has gained growing significance within wine tourism, attracting visitors eager to experience grape picking firsthand.
“Harvest season,” says Giovanni Dubini, President of Movimento Turismo del Vino Umbria,“has become an increasingly sought-after wine tourism experience. More and more visitors choose to visit wineries during harvest time to see firsthand the work behind wine production and enjoy an authentic experience at the heart of wine estates. This trend is part of a broader transformation in tourism, with the season becoming progressively longer and autumn establishing itself as an ideal period for experiential travel. Harvest season is therefore also an opportunity to attract visitors to wineries during a time of year that was previously less affected by tourism flows.”
The harvest journey then reaches Sicily, where grape picking extends over a particularly long period and varies significantly across the island.
“Having started in western Sicily,” says Alessio Planeta, President of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia,“the 2026 harvest has gradually taken shape and color. It is now progressing across the entire island and will conclude, after approximately 90 days, in the highest vineyards of northeastern Sicily. It is a journey through an extraordinary diversity of soils, altitudes and grape varieties, involving producers of different histories and sizes, united by their ability to interpret the season’s conditions and guide each vineyard toward its best expression.”
The overall picture is positive from a quality standpoint, with encouraging expectations across much of the region. As for production volumes, it is still too early for definitive estimates. Data emerging in the coming weeks will allow for a more accurate assessment. Initial indications nonetheless suggest a reduction in output, with differing situations across the island. This variability reflects the complexity of Sicily’s vineyard landscape and calls for caution before drawing overall quantitative conclusions about the 2026 harvest.
In the Vittoria area, in southeastern Sicily, spring rainfall helped build good water reserves in the sandy-calcareous soils, enabling vineyards to better withstand the high summer temperatures, with peaks above 40°C and minimum temperatures consistently above seasonal averages.
“Weather conditions accelerated grape ripening and required careful canopy management. Estimates for the 2026 harvest indicate a slight reduction in yields, accompanied by high aromatic and phenolic concentration in the grapes. The expected quality is excellent: the outstanding sanitary condition of the fruit, together with the good level of natural acidity preserved by the vines, provides ideal conditions for both freshness and ageing potential in the wines,” concludes Silvio Balloni, President of the Regional Wine Enoteca of Sicily, South-East Branch.
