Italian and French winegrowers are experiencing their earliest ever grape harvests, a phenomenon attributed to soaring summer temperatures linked to climate change. In northern Italy's Oltrepo Pavese region, the grape harvest began in late July for the first time, with Matteo Castellani, head of the Coldiretti farming union for Casteggio, south of Pavia, stating, "This year is historic because the grapes have never been harvested in July before."
Harvesting started on July 27 and 28, setting a new record. Castellani noted, "I've been in the wine business 43 years and it's the first time in my life I've been harvesting in July," as farm workers picked Pinot Noir grapes at the Defilippi - I Gessi estate.
Similarly, in southern France's Aude region, Alain Gleyzes, a winegrower in La Palme, described a July 30 harvest start as "exceptional to say the least." Gleyzes, who leads the Fitou appellation, has faced drought challenges, having uprooted about one-third of his vineyard area in 2025 due to arid conditions near the Mediterranean coast.
Near Narbonne, twin sisters Camille and Audrey Lalaurie, 10th-generation viticulteurs, reported that until this year, they had never begun harvesting before August 12.
Winegrowers warn that continued high temperatures could force even faster harvesting in the future and potentially affect the quality of wines produced.
Grapes hang in a vineyard on the Grand Verdus wine estate in Sadirac, southwestern France's Bordeaux region, July 29, 2026. (Photo: AP/Eva van Dam)
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