Extreme heat is reshaping Italy’s sparkling wine industry with early harvests and nighttime picking

Extreme heat and climate change are accelerating grape maturation, forcing winemakers in Franciacorta to begin harvesting sparkling wine grapes significantly earlier than anticipated. Due to scorching temperatures, workers must operate pre-dawn under floodlights to quickly harvest the fruit and preserve acidity. This challenging situation is leading other regions, including Sicily and Tuscany, to adjust their own harvest schedules.