The grape harvest in Sardinia

The grape harvest - known in Sardinia as 'sa binnenna' or 'sa innenna' - represents a crucial moment that sanctions the meeting of work, knowledge and ingenuity and is expressed in the picking of the bunches of grapes patiently left to ripen.

Although the grape harvest takes place between the end of August and the end of October, September in the wine world is the month that ushers in autumn.

Several factors influence the harvest: the climate, the soil, the winemaker's choices, the results of work in the vineyard and so on. The reference period also changes depending on the grapes and the territory: in central and northern Italy, for example, the harvest starts between the beginning and middle of September, continuing, in some cases, until late November. In the south, on the other hand, where the climate is generally warmer and drier, harvesting is decided earlier.

In Sardinia, even, depending on particularly sultry years, harvesting begins in mid-August to prevent the grapes from over-ripening.

The time of harvesting must coincide with the full ripeness of the grapes, which have reached the right balance between the acid and sugar components in the skins and berries. A premature harvest would result in wines with a more sour flavour, as the concentration of sugars would be very low. Conversely, a late harvest would give rise to wines with an excessively sweet or even cloying flavour, as the acid components would give way to a higher sugar content.

Harvesting, therefore, requires the right balance and ripeness, which are the result of patience, commitment and knowledge of the vineyard.

Mandrolisai Vineyards

What will the 2025 harvest be like?

The forecasts for the 2025 harvest in Sardinia are encouraging: after a mild winter and a rainy spring, the vineyards were able to cope with a hot June without any particular problems. The grapes are in good health, with only localised attacks of downy mildew and powdery mildew, which have been effectively managed.

From a quantitative point of view, growth is estimated at around +5% compared to the average of the last three years, bringing Sardinia back to more generous levels than in the recent past.

The quality is considered good to excellent: the grapes have reached a good sugar/acid balance and the wines are expected to be highly aromatic. However, much will depend on the weather conditions in the coming weeks, which will be decisive for final ripening.

Once again, the protagonists of the island's viticulture remain the symbolic grape varieties: Vermentino, Cannonau and Carignano, which this year promise labels capable of expressing the characteristics of Sardinia at their best.

Now all that remains is to wait!

Roberta Carboni has been a tour guide for over 10 years. She is an art historian and sommelier, lives in Cagliari and is passionate about Sardinia, which she has loved all her life. This is precisely why she has chosen to share her knowledge through exclusive themed tours. In this way, she helps to promote the island not only to those who do not yet know it, but also to the Sardinians themselves. The tours take place both within Cagliari, in the historic centre and other parts of the city, and in the surrounding area, extending as far as the south and centre of Sardinia.

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