Summary
Italian winemakers in Franciacorta are harvesting grapes for sparkling wine up to 10 days earlier than expected due to scorching temperatures and below-average rainfall, a consequence of climate change. The extreme heat forces workers to pick grapes before dawn under floodlights to preserve quality, as midday temperatures make afternoon picking impossible. This early harvest trend is also seen in other Italian wine regions, posing complex challenges for producers of Champagne-style wines.
