THE SEASON BEGINS UNDER THE BEST AUSPICES
In Tuscan Maremma, everything is ready for the start of the harvest, which is shaping up to be one of the most promising of recent years. The grapes are ripening evenly and optimally, thanks to ideal weather conditions and the absence of thermal or water stress events.
Dry weather and the consistent temperature variation over the past few days are contributing to a perfect scenario for a high-quality harvest. No weather alerts are currently in effect: warm temperatures may return around mid-August, but without concerning peaks.
Particularly positive is the development of aromatic compounds, which bodes well for a production of top-quality Vermentino, provided that favorable weather conditions continue. The grapes’ health status remains excellent across the entire area.
The timing of the harvest is perfectly in line with that of 2024: picking will begin the week before Ferragosto (August 15), starting with the earliest-ripening varieties such as Chardonnay, Viognier, and then Merlot, as well as grapes intended for sparkling wine bases and rosés.
On the volume front, a plentiful production is expected, with the exception of certain varieties more sensitive to downy mildew, which suffered significant attacks during the rainy month of May.
According to the latest AVITO data, the denomination confirms a positive trend with a 4% increase in bottled wineduring the first seven months of 2025. This result stands in contrast with the regional data, which shows a slight 3% decline since the beginning of the year. It is an encouraging signal for the area, which continues to grow in both recognition and trust, even in a highly challenging market.
Regarding the delicate situation with U.S. tariffs, the Consortium’s president, Francesco Mazzei, reiterated its seriousness:
“If tariffs were to remain at 15%, it would be a serious issue for our sector and represent a total failure of political negotiations. Italy would come out of it very badly. Fortunately, for denomination wines such as DOC and IGP, negotiations are still ongoing, and we hope they will lead to better results. It is essential that this uncertainty is resolved as soon as possible: the market needs stability in order to plan and grow.”