Molise vineyards face early grape harvest due to climate change

Grape harvests in the Molise region of Italy are facing significant shifts due to climate change. At the Cantina Sociale San Zenone cooperative in Montenero di Bisaccia, the harvest has begun more than fifteen days earlier than usual.

Adamantonio Flocco, president of the winery, described the early start as an organizational and technical challenge. To maintain wine quality, technicians and enologists must monitor sugar levels, acidity, and phenolic maturity closely, as high temperatures cause these elements to evolve at different rates. While the timing has changed, technical assessments suggest that production quantities and characteristics may remain consistent with previous years if managed carefully.

Riccardo Terriaca, president of Confcooperative Molise, noted that these shifts reflect the concrete impact of rising temperatures and water stress on the agricultural sector. He emphasized that resilience in the countryside requires constant adaptation, investment, and hard work to maintain local territories and communities.