Oltrepò Pavese sees record-early 2026 grape harvest amid heatwave

Record high temperatures in Lombardy have accelerated grape maturation, prompting one of the earliest harvests on record for the 2026 vintage. On 28 July, the De Filippi "Cantine I Gessi" estate in Oliva Gessi (province of Pavia) officially began picking the first early‑ripening varieties destined for sparkling wine, marking the start of the national harvest season.

At the historic Conte Vistarino estate in Rocca de’ Giorgi, owner Ottavia Vistarino notes the 2026 vintage is shaping up as a "precocious and highly potential year, but also particularly sensitive." The estate is employing precision viticulture, monitoring each parcel to optimise the timing of the harvest, preserve acidity and phenolic balance, and protect the identity of the Valle Scuropasso wines.

Cold‑weather experts warn the campaign may be uncertain, with a prolonged five‑month harvesting window due to the diversity of grape varieties and micro‑climatic conditions across the region.