2026 harvest in the Treviso area: between climate changes and new consumption habits
The Bottega distillery in Godega Sant'Urbano talks about an early harvest due to the record heat and analyzes the new trends in the Prosecco market.
Quick Look
- In the Treviso area, the 2026 harvest was marked by record heat and drought, leading to an early harvest.
- Sandro Bottega predicts a quality year despite the drops in quantity, highlighting the success of Prosecco and the evolution of youth consumption.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The 2026 harvest was influenced by high temperatures between May and August and a reduction in rainfall of between 10% and 30%.
Prosecco harvest time in the Treviso area where in Godega Sant'Urbano, in the Bottega distillery, it is done as in the past, with the hand picking of the bunches and pressing in the vats, methods now obsolete, and a libation at the end of the harvest with local products.
"The 2026 harvest was characterized by significantly higher temperatures in the period between May and August - explained Sandro Bottega - only comparable to those of 2003, but with a historical peak of days with over 35 degrees; furthermore, rainfall was reduced by 10 to 30% depending on the area and above all with hail phenomena which caused losses of up to 50% in some vineyards".
As regards Prosecco, this climatic trend determined an early harvest of approximately 2 weeks in the hilly areas and 5/7 days in the flat areas.
Overall, Stefano Bottega's prediction "will be a good year, but with smaller quantities and with wines with more modern organoleptic characteristics given the lower alcohol content, but with greater softness and a good harmony of aromas". In general, Italian wine has suffered a contraction due to US duties "but those who suffered the most - Sandro points out - were the lowest quality wines but not Prosecco which is increasingly the preferred sparkling wine". In fact, Prosecco represents the driving force for Italian wine in the world and France is the third market. Prosecco is a wine imitated by many countries, not least Australians and Brazilians, whose production causes damage not only to volumes, "but above all to the image of the product. However, we have the hope - Sandro hopes - that the regulations will be able to protect our denomination". However, young consumers have a different approach to wine than in the past: they appreciate No/Low alcohol wine, and see wine as an ingredient for mixing, hence the success of the Spritz and other cocktails. The next transition to quality wine occurs between the ages of 30 and 35.
These young consumers drink less, but they want to drink better and are willing to spend money for quality.
Open Questions
- What will be the final economic impact of the quantitative decline on producers?
