In Oltrepo Pavese, a winegrowing region in northern Italy, the harvest was in full swing in the final days of July, a first.The same phenomenon is also affecting winegrowing areas of southern France."This year is historic because the grapes have never been harvested in July before," said Matteo Castellani, head of the Coldiretti farming union for Casteggio, south of Pavia."We started the harvest at the beginning of the week, on July 27 and 28, and that's a record.
'Abnormal heat is a symptom of climate change which (we) must take into account,' says Castellani © Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP
"In Oltrepo Pavese, like elsewhere in general, the harvest usually begins between August 10 and 15," Castellani told AFP.Under a blazing sun, farm workers delicately detach bunches of Pinot Noir from rows of vines at the Defilippi - I Gessi estate."Recent months have seen abnormal heat -- a symptom of climate change which, sadly, farmers and the entire sector must now take into account," said Castellani.Coldiretti forecasts the harvest for Sangiovese grapes, Italy's most common variety, could begin as early as mid-August in Tuscany.The grapes are usually picked between September and November.
Predicting the quality of a harvest spread over 5 months is an oenological challenge for wineries © Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP
