When does the grape harvest begin in Tuscany? And in the other regions of Italy? Find out more about the best period for the grape harvest.

When does grape harvest take place in Tuscany?

Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, not only for its cultural and culinary attractions, but also for its landscape beauty: depending on the season, you can admire always different landscapes all breathtakingly beautiful. 

One of the landscapes that attracts more and more tourists is that of the lush Tuscan hills, where the vineyards stretch out to the horizon and where the most elegant wine resorts, such as Castello Banfi Wine Resort are located. The ideal time of the year to visit Tuscany is when grape harvest takes place.

When does grape harvest take place in Tuscany?

The grape harvest in Tuscany mainly takes place in September and October.  However, the exact dates change every year because the ripening of the grapes depends on several factors that often cannot be predicted in advance. During the months before harvest, experts analyse the grapes to determine when they will reach the ideal ripeness.

In addition, not all varieties ripen at the same time: there are early varieties and late ones. Early varieties, such as those of the Chardonnay vine, are harvested in early September, and in some cases, if the weather is favorable, even in August.

On the other hand, late varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon are harvested towards the end of September and the first fifteen days of October.

Specifically because of the variety of its landscape and related climate and soil characteristics, Tuscany has grape varieties with different ripening periods. Therefore, depending on the characteristics of the vineyard, harvesting can be carried out from late August to early October.

When does harvesting take place in other regions of Italy?

Even in this case, the harvest period depends on the variety of grapes and climatic factors. In Sicily, for example, grape harvest begins in early August for those grapes that will later be used for the production of sparkling wines, while in some areas of Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige the harvest takes place not earlier than November.

How to know when to harvest?

Climate change, the disappearance of the mid-seasons, and sudden and often torrential rain that are more and more frequent, even in the winter months, are putting to the test vines and wine-makers.  The higher temperature can accelerate the ripening period but also change some of the aromatic and chemical characteristics of grapes and, consequently  that of the wines.

That is why, in order to understand when to harvest, it is necessary to assess on the field the degree of ripeness of the grapes. There are several elements to take into account to know whether the grapes are ripe or not, and there are mainly two:

• colour

• acid/sugar ratio

Colour depends on the type of vine: ripe white grapes are amber yellow (while during the ripening stage they are green), while red grapes are black when ripen (pale pink when unripe).

On the other hand, regarding the acid-sugar ratio, ripe grapes will have a higher concentration of sugar and a lower concentration of acids.

Tradition and technology to know when to harvest

A sensory grape analysis is the most traditional method for assessing the ripeness of grapes, and thus when to harvest, and it is carried out by choosing three samples of grape berries from the vineyard:

• First, a tactile analysis is performed, squeezing the berry between the fingers to assess its consistency. The softer it is, the riper it is.

• Subsequently, a visual analysis is carried out. As mentioned earlier, it is important to check if the colour of the berry matches expectations

• Finally, a tasting test takes place to asses the degree of acidity and tannic intensity of the skin.

On the other hand, technology is used to assess tonal acidity and the presence of sugar. More and more large companies are integrating traditional methods of assessing grapes with analysis in specialized laboratories to make sure they catch the perfect moment to start the harvest.

Where to witness grape harvest in Tuscany?

Grape harvest is not just a simple harvest, but a true art, and this is the reason why it is truly fascinating and educational to witness it.

Staying at a wine resort, such as Castello Banfi, wandering around the estate during harvest time, it may happen that you can admire the grape harvest and enjoy a unique experience. 

Grape harvest at Castello Banfi, despite the significant extension of the vineyards, is carried out partly by hand and partly by machine. The harvest of Sangiovese, a late variety of vine compared to others, yet unique and exclusive for producing Brunello di Montalcino, takes place roughly around the last week of September. Therefore, September is the ideal month if you wish to witness the grape harvest that takes place in Tuscany and stay at Castello Banfi.