From Veneto to Tuscany, Piedmont and Puglia, passing through Sicily and Sardinia: the forecast for the 2025 wine growing season in Italy indicates variable weather conditions from north to south, but generally favorable, with some regional differences in the growing cycle, plant health management, and production estimates. The Italian Academy of Vine and Wine, through its academics, has taken stock of the situation by analyzing the state of Italy’s grapes, region by region, before the start of the harvest, with an update as of August 3rd. Here are the forecasts for the 2025 grape harvest in Italy.
What the 2025 grape harvest will be like in Italy: the first forecasts from the Italian Academy of Vine and Wine
Thanks to the work of a network of university professors and experts, all academics, this is the picture, divided by production macro-area, that the Italian Academy of Vine and Wine has drawn for the 2025 grape harvest in Italy.
Veneto
Temperatures slightly above average in March and June, rainfall similar to 2024 with short periods of drought, delayed bud break and flowering, harvest of early varieties expected from late August, slightly higher production and good quality expected.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, after a rainy May, hot and dry June and July with irrigation, limited hailstorms, bud break 4-5 days early (10 days early for Merlot), Glera, which had delayed veraison, is now recovering. Ribolla is one of the varieties with the earliest veraison. The traditional mid-August harvest of the new resistant varieties will be followed by that of Pinot Grigio, estimated around August 20th.
Trentino Alto-Adige
In Trentino, temperatures were above average in the early months and there were no late frosts. June was very hot, while July was cooler and rainier, with the latter month recording the highest rainfall of the year. The vines are in good vegetative condition, thanks to a balance between growth and climatic conditions. From a health perspective, the situation is under control: downy mildew and powdery mildew are not causing concern, while only a few cases of botrytis have been recorded due to the humidity in July. Yellows and esca are normal compared to the previous year. In terms of quality, the 2025 harvest looks good: much will depend on the conditions in August and September. Production estimates indicate a slight increase of 2-3% compared to 2024, primarily due to the low incidence of downy mildew damage. The newly introduced grape varieties have not significantly impacted overall quantities.
North-Northwest (Piedmont-Lombardy-Liguria)
Spring 2025 was the sixth wettest in the last 60 years in Piedmont, with an average of over 450 mm. Early in the season, downy mildew attacks were very severe, but the control, now conducted precisely thanks to widespread monitoring systems, was effective, and damage was limited. Harvest is expected to be approximately 10 days earlier than in 2024. A 10-15% reduction in production is expected compared to 2024.
Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo
Colder spring with delayed development, delayed veraison in Marche and Abruzzo, while earlier in Emilia, frequent spring rains but without problems, and the presence of striped grape moth requiring monitoring. Vineyard production capacity appears generally very good, and compared to 2024, increases are expected for Lambrusco (+10%), Trebbiano Romagnolo (+5%), Trebbiano Toscano or Bianchello (+10%), Verdicchio (variable from +5% to +15%), and Montepulciano (+10%). Production estimates are slightly down for Ancellotta and Pignoletto, which suffered flower drop and poor fruit set.
Tuscany, Lazio, Umbria
In Tuscany, the year began with January, February, and March recording above-average temperatures, among the highest in the last 70 years. A rainy winter, followed by a heatwave in the second half of June; early budbreak and flowering, normal veraison, and slightly lower-than-average fertility. In Tuscany, overall production estimates for Sangiovese in 2025 indicate a production level consistent with the last 10 years, but lower than in 2024. Estimated production for other varietals is also slightly lower. Harvest will begin in mid-August with the earliest varieties and in early September with Sangiovese, starting on the coast and ending in early October in the more inland areas. Grape production in Umbria and Lazio is also expected to be slightly lower than the previous year. In particular, attacks of downy mildew have been reported in Umbria, and in Lazio, vines may have been affected by the heat wave between late June and early July.
Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria
This year’s exceptional weather has left its mark. Budbreak occurred in ideal conditions, with sunny days and temperatures tempered by the north wind. Ideal climate for budbreak and regular phenological phases, scorching but breezy, very healthy vine health, almost complete absence of fungal diseases, and some light hailstorms. Harvesting of the early Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Pinot grapes for sparkling wine will begin in early August, followed by the native varieties. Initial estimates suggest the 2025 harvest will be a good one, with a healthy vineyard and a balanced grape yield, higher than in 2023 and 2024, and in perfect vine health. Production is expected to be 20% higher than last year. If September and October are favorable, the estimates reported here could even be increased.
Northwestern Sicily
Stable climate with brief heatwaves, slightly delayed but normal vine health, increased downy mildew pressure due to morning fog, slightly increased yield with heavier berries.
Southwestern, central-southern Sicily, and the Etna area
Southwestern Sicily with delayed bud break, more aggressive downy mildew in coastal areas; central-southern Sicily with delayed phenology and increased yield; Etna with marked delays, severe downy mildew and powdery mildew, losses of up to 35%, delayed harvest, and a 20% drop in production.
Sardinia
The winter was mild with little rain, while spring saw abundant rainfall beneficial to vegetative development. A warm June limited cryptogamic diseases, with only minor water stress in the Nurra and southern part of the island. The phenological stages are slightly earlier than in 2024, but in line with previous years. The phytosanitary situation is positive, with some localized attacks of downy mildew and slight presences of powdery mildew and leafhopper, all manageable with limited treatments. Grape production is estimated to increase by 5% compared to the three-year average (2021-2023: 666,137 quintals; 2025 estimate: 701,857 quintals), especially in Ogliastra, Sulcis and the south of the island, with grape quality expected to be good to excellent.
“We don’t want to produce a quality report on the 2025 grape harvest, knowing that the weather during the final ripening phase will be crucial to the health, quantity, and quality of the grapes,” explains Rosario Di Lorenzo, president of the Italian Academy of Vine and Wine. “We know that quality will also be determined by the work done during the final ripening period, and for this reason, we will return at the end of the harvest with a report that is even more realistic.”
The contributions were made possible thanks to the collaboration of academics Vincenzo Gerbi, Vittorino Novello, Emilio Celotti, Angelo Costacurta, Oriana Silvestroni, Paolo Storchi, Leonardo Palumbo, Mariano Murru, Maurizio Bottura, and Rosario Di Lorenzo.
