The 2024 harvest in Italy looks set to be a year of strong contrasts, with a drop in production, but generally excellent grape quality.

Despite the challenges posed by climate change, Italy maintains its world record as the largest wine producer, with an estimated 41 million hectoliters.

Veneto: Last Days of Harvest and First Estimates

In Veneto , the grape harvest is now in its final stages, although in some areas the harvest will continue for a few more weeks. Initial estimates indicate a slightly lower production compared to previous years, but the quality remains satisfactory. Nicola Zaggia , president of Stradone del Friularo, confirmed that, despite a difficult year, local producers can count on a good quality product.

However, concerns remain about rising production costs and economic difficulties related to access to credit, as highlighted by Luca Rigotti , president of the wine sector of Fedagripesca/Confcooperative . Despite these issues, Rigotti confirmed Italy’s leadership in the sector, while highlighting the need to address climate change and the problem of generational turnover.

Climate and Bad Weather Divide Italy

Climate change played a key role in the 2024 grape harvest, dividing Italy in two. In the North, bad weather and hailstorms significantly reduced the amount of grapes harvested, while in the South there were delays of 10-15 days in the harvest due to drought. Organic vineyards in particular were put to the test, forced to resort to more intense phytosanitary defense.

In Bolgheri , a storm on September 23 flooded numerous vineyards, endangering the ongoing harvest, especially for varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon .

Sicily: Excellent Quality but Halved Production

In Sicily , the 2024 harvest suffered a 50% decline due to high temperatures and prolonged drought. However, the quality of the grapes remained excellent, confirming the region’s reputation for producing high-end wines. The DOC Sicilia Consortium predicts a vintage of great longevity, despite the production difficulties.

A Glass Half Empty for Many Producers

Many Italian producers are looking at the 2024 harvest with mixed feelings. While the quality of the grapes has been generally positive, the lack of adequate institutional support is worrying. The Consorzio Vini has highlighted the lack of concrete interventions in favor of the sector, which continues to suffer from high costs and difficulties related to climate change.

Events and Traditions of the Harvest

Despite the challenges, the 2024 harvest is also an occasion for celebration. In Tuscany , the season is experienced with enthusiasm, thanks to the numerous harvest festivals that enliven the local villages. Young people, families and wine enthusiasts participate in events that celebrate the region’s winemaking tradition.

At a national level, the Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia event, promoted by the Movimento Turismo del Vino , is also back, with a special theme for 2024: “La Merenda in Vendemmia” . September and October will see hundreds of wineries open their doors to visitors for tastings and picnics among the rows, offering an authentic experience throughout Italy.

Conclusion

The 2024 harvest in Italy ends with a contrasting balance: on the one hand, the world record with 41 million hectoliters, on the other, a drop in production due to extreme weather conditions. However, the quality of the grapes and the excellence of Italian wine continue to shine, supporting our country’s reputation as a leader in the sector. There is no shortage of challenges, but the Italian wine industry remains resilient, ready to face the future with determination.

A thousand professionals participated in Lovely Wines, organized by AGB Selezione at Palazzo Brancaccio: an opportunity for discussion and growth, with more than 200 labels for tasting.

The first Roman edition of Lovely Wines, the open day with portfolio tasting of AGB Selezione, recorded a significant participation with a thousand professionals of the sector present at Palazzo Brancaccio.

On Monday, September 23 , in this 19th-century setting immersed in the greenery of the gardens on Colle Oppio, over 200 labels were put up for tasting , allowing participants to discover wines from the most renowned Italian and European wine regions. The large turnout highlighted the strong interest in the new products and collaborations presented by the group.

” The wine sector is going through a difficult period, influenced not only by the difficult global economic situation, but also by significant changes in consumer habits. For the first time, a traditional sector like ours is having to deal with new trends, ” said Massimo Ferrari, sole director of AGB Selezione . ” The market is proving to be increasingly demanding and competitive, favoring fresh, dynamic wines with reasonable alcohol content. Despite this, I remain confident that high-quality wines, capable of telling a story, will acquire ever greater appeal. In this transition phase, an ever-increasing level of professionalism is required ,” he concluded.

Lovely Wines was much more than a simple exhibition of labels: a real journey to discover the excellence of wine not only from Italy, but also from abroad, with a focus on French, German and Spanish wines, which constitute an important part of the AGB Selezione portfolio . One of the central elements was the introduction of new companies in the catalogue. Among these were Fabio Motta in Bolgheri, of which Agricole Gussalli Beretta recently acquired a majority share, and among the international new entries Domaine Pierre Thibert , a producer from Burgundy, and two renowned Champagne Houses: Villa Bon Accueil and Penet-Chardonnet Grand Cru .

This breadth of offering, which goes beyond national borders, demonstrates AGB’s commitment to meeting the needs of an increasingly demanding market that is also interested in internationalization. Lovely Wines represented a unique opportunity for direct comparison between producers and professionals , as well as an ideal moment to consolidate relationships and discuss future trends in the wine market.

During the event, guests also had the opportunity to learn more about the six Italian wineries owned by the group : Lo Sparviere (Franciacorta), Castello di Radda (Chianti Classico), Orlandi Contucci Ponno (Colline Teramane), Fortemasso (Barolo), Steinhaus (Bassa Atesina) and, starting in 2024, Fabio Motta (Bolgheri). AGB Selezione distributes wines produced by 49 companies , for a total of over 300 labels. In addition to those owned, it distributes 18 Italian and 25 foreign ones . This variety allows the group to position itself as a point of reference in the wine scene, representing and promoting not only Italian excellence, but also some of the best European labels.

What do Val di Cembra, Langhe and Etna have in common? Without a doubt their winemaking vocation, developed in territories as evocative as they are challenging. They will be at the centre of the opening event that will kick off the Trentino event: an opportunity to bring together the experiences and vision of producers, experts and professionals.Dolo-Vini-Miti, a conference on wine landscapes inaugurates the event dedicated to vertical wines | 11-20 October, Val di Cembra-Val di Fiemme.

Friday 11 October at 18.00 at the Teatro di Verla di Giovo

The second edition of Dolo-Vini-Miti is approaching, the vertical wine festival that from 11 to 20 October will host, between Val di Cembra and Val di Fiemme, over 20 events to celebrate vertical wines and get to know territories of great charm and history. The event will open with a conference entitled “ The landscapes of Wine: Val di Cembra, Langhe and Etna – Stories of wine lands compared between Unesco and PRIS ”: a highly anticipated event for the theme and the authoritativeness of the speakers, scheduled for 11 October at the Verla di Giovo theater, starting at 6 pm.

The work will be kicked off by Damiano Zanotelli, President of the VIVACE Committee (acronym for Viticoltura Valle di Cembra), PRIS (Rural Landscapes of Historical Interest) and GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) representative, who will take stock of the activities and state of the art of the association founded in March 2023 in Arezzo to give voice and strength to agriculture as an expression of the cultural roots linked to the territory and the work of man.

Bruno Bertero, General Director of the Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board and Director of the Association for the Heritage of the Vineyard Landscapes of that famous area of Piedmont , has the task of analyzing the relationships with UNESCO and tracing a brief analysis of the distinctive traits that characterize the Langhe, including strengths, weaknesses, crises and opportunities.

Aldo Vajra , owner of the winery of the same name in the Langhe, famous for Barolo and more, will focus on the production world that characterizes the famous territory in the province of Cuneo, offering an overview of the trend of visits to the wineries, sales and customer profiling.

Rosario Pilati, Vice President of the Strada del Vino e dei Sapori del Trentino, as well as representative of Cembra Cantina di Montagna, will address the topic of the historical evolution of the territory, from the rise of porphyry to the work of valorization and promotion of the tourist aspect, illustrating the data on hospitality in the cellar and the 5-year investment projects at company and territorial level.

Maurizio Lunetta, Director of the Etna Doc Consortium , will focus on the factors that have decreed the success of the viticulture developed on the slopes of the Sicilian volcano.

Last but not least, Fabio Piccoli, professional journalist and Director of Winemeridian , expert in economics and marketing of the wine sector, who will offer companies three marketing tips to develop contemporary wine culture.

The debate, moderated by Cristina Mercuri , DipWSET, wine educator and presenter, founder Mercuri Wine Club, is aimed not only at professionals, who will be able to gather various stimuli for reflection, but also at anyone interested in exploring themes that revolve around the world of wine and landscape. Access is free and no reservation is required.

“Il Fondatore”, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021 tribute to the founder of Montalbera Enrico Riccardo Morando, and to the assignment of the 5 Grappoli Bibenda. A great reconfirmation after receiving the award in the 2024 edition for the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva “Limpronta” 2020.

A new milestone for Montalbera which sees the assignment of the prestigious “ 5 Grappoli Bibenda ” recognition to the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021 “Il Fondatore” . After receiving the award in the 2024 edition for the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva “Limpronta” 2020, Montalbera confirms its excellence in the 2025 edition.

“ I am honored to receive this award from the Bibenda Guide, directed by the “ dean of wine” Franco Ricci, for Il Ruchè Riserva Il Fondatore. This recognition arouses a particular emotion in me due to the strong bond with my grandfather, head of the family and founder of Montalbera. Il Fondatore not only represents a powerful and sumptuous expression of Ruchè, but also a tribute to the visionary history and rich winemaking heritage of Montalbera and this important award gives it further value. The tribute to Enrico Riccardo Morando , to our history and to our roots. Proud to have had the confirmation, after the assignment of the 5 Grappoli in the 2024 edition to Limpronta 2020, of this important recognition that I welcome with infinite satisfaction and great emotion ” says Franco Morando, CEO and General Manager of Montalbera.

Franco Morando was one of the proponents of the reform of the Ruchè disciplinary statute in 2013, which discussed the “novelty of the mention Riserva”. Montalbera was one of the first companies to experiment with the refinement of the Ruchè grape variety in wood , first with “LIMPRONTA” and then with “IL FONDATORE” adding the indication RISERVA to the wine label.

The Fondatore is refined in French oak barrels , second or third passage, for approximately 10-12 months and presents a powerful and characteristic flavour on the palate, with great persistence.

Ruby red in color with garnet reflections, “Il Fondatore” brings with it an intense aroma, with aromatic hints and hints of berries, which sinuously fade into oriental spices and black pepper . Fresh and silky, with a full consistency and pure expression of the native Monferrato grape. The production amounts to 9,500 bottles of 0.75 l and 95 Magnums of 1.5 l, numbers that present a further tribute to Enrico Riccardo Morando, who passed away at the venerable age of 95.

The Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG Riserva 2021 “Il Fondatore” was awarded 110 cum laude also by the world-class wine expert Wine Killer Luca Gardini , the assignment of the “Gold Medal” Winehunter Award 2024 led by Helmuth Koecher and the Corona Vinibuoni di Italia 2025, listed among the TOP 300, the best wines selected by the national curators of the Guide. The international rise for Montalbera also continues, with “Il Fondatore” being the object of numerous awards such as the 90 points of James Suckling , one of the most famous American wine critics, and 96 points from Forbes by Tom Mullen.