Emilia-Romagna grape harvest shows mixed results amid drought

The 2026 grape harvest in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy shows contrasting results across different areas. In the Reggio Emilia and Modena territories, Confcooperative Terre d’Emilia reported a positive balance, with thirteen local cooperatives delivering 2,612,000 quintals of grapes, a 10.9% increase compared to 2025. This harvest featured high sugar levels, with an average of 17.59. While Lambrusco accounted for 54% of the harvest, Ancellotta made up 38%, and white grapes saw a 16.9% expansion.

In contrast, the province of Ravenna is facing significant challenges due to drought. Coldiretti estimates an average production drop of 15% to 20% compared to 2025. The impact is even more severe in hillside vineyards where limited irrigation access has led to losses between 40% and 50%.

Despite the high quality of the grapes in some areas, producers face economic pressures. In the Reggio and Modena regions, origin prices have declined by 20% to 30% since 2021. Local cooperatives are calling for structural public interventions, including support for modernizing transformation processes, vineyard renewal incentives, and strategies to balance supply and demand.