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Every year, the grape harvest is the moment the whole season in the vineyard has been building toward. At Agrivar, the agricultural estate of Palazzo di Varignana, the 2026 harvest began in the last week of July and wrapped up around the start of September, bringing in six grapes that become the wines of our estate in Emilia-Romagna.
Here is how the harvest went, how we care for the fruit, and how guests joined us in the vineyard.
When is the grape harvest in Italy?
The Italian grape harvest usually runs from late August through October, depending on the region, the grape variety, and the weather that year. In Emilia-Romagna, September is traditionally the heart of the season. Grapes for sparkling wines are often picked first, to keep their natural freshness. In 2026, our harvest began in the last week of July, earlier than many visitors expect.
How did the season shape our harvest?
Summer 2026 was exceptional. Italy’s summer was the hottest since at least 1950, ahead of the famous summer of 2003. In a season like this, grapes ripen faster, so timing and attention to detail matter even more.
That is where our team’s experience shows. For our Albana, for example, the grapes are picked at full ripeness in the coolest hours of the day, which helps protect their freshness and aromas. Across the estate, the priority is the same: bring the best possible fruit to the cellar in the best possible condition.
Which grapes do we harvest?
At Agrivar, Agricultare estate of Palazzo di Varignana, we harvest Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Albana, Sangiovese, and Malbo Gentile. Together they allow us to make a range of styles, from still wines to sparkling wines made with the traditional method.
Machine or hand: how do we pick?
Most of our grapes are picked by machine. It is efficient, and it gets the fruit from the vineyard to the cellar quickly, while it is still fresh.
The exception is Malbo Gentile, which is picked entirely by hand. It is a rare native grape of Emilia-Romagna, and we make only about 2,000 bottles of it each year. At that scale, every bunch gets individual attention.
What happens to the grapes after harvest?
Once the grapes reach the cellar, each wine follows its own path. In simple terms:
- Pressing or gentle crushing: the juice is separated from the skins (for white wines) or left in contact with them (for red wines).
- Fermentation: natural sugars turn into alcohol. This happens in different vessels depending on the wine. Some wines ferment in concrete vats, which keep a pure, clean fruit character. Others rest in barrel, which adds complexity and depth.
- Resting and ageing: the young wine settles, develops, and gets ready for bottling.
A few examples from our cellar:
- Albana Romagna DOCG: the grapes are picked at full ripeness in the coolest hours of the day. The juice is gently settled in the cold, then ferments in concrete. It rests over the winter on its yeasts and is bottled the following spring.
- Sangiovese Superiore DOC: after harvest at full ripeness, the grapes are gently destemmed and macerate in concrete with temperature-controlled red winemaking. The wine then ages in wood and concrete for the year after the harvest.
- Sparkling wines (blanc de blancs and blanc de noirs): made with the traditional method, with at least 24 months of ageing on their own yeasts before disgorgement.
Things to do near Bologna: pick grapes in a vineyard in Emilia-Romagna
Looking for an experience that goes beyond the tasting room? This September, we invited guests to harvest grapes by hand in our vineyard with our Cantina Aperta harvest special. Couples, friends, and families came together, clippers in hand, to pick their own grapes and walk the rows where the wine begins.
Afterward, everyone gathered for a tasting of local cured meats and cheeses with a glass of wine, and fresh grape juice for the youngest harvesters. It was a slow, simple day outdoors, and a way to feel connected to the land that is hard to get from a bottle alone.
If you would like to join us next year, follow us on Instagram @palazzodivarignanafood o or sign up for our newsletter.
Plan your visit
Looking for a wine tasting in during autumn or winter? Agrivar offers wine and extra virgin olive oil tastings where you can discover our products and explore the flavours of the area.