Manisa launches 2026 grape export season as harvest begins

The 2026 grape export season opened in Alaşehir, Manisa, with the Superior Seedless variety being harvested and the first export‑laden trucks scheduled to leave for European markets. Alaşehir Trade Chamber President Hüseyin Soygür said the shipments mark the official start of the season and wished “a blessed, fruitful season” for producers, traders and exporters.

At the same time, Manisa’s grape harvest got underway, featuring the early‑ripening Spil Karası cultivar developed by the Manisa Viticulture Research Institute. Institute director Akay Ünal reported a roughly ten‑day delay due to climate conditions but noted that the lack of natural‑disaster impacts and the institute’s new varieties support high‑yield expectations for this year’s crop.