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For centuries, the grape harvest has been one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the year. But did you know that the timing of the grape harvest is no longer what it used to be? Whereas vineyards once waited until the end of September or even October, today the harvest often begins in late August or early September.
What has changed? The answer lies in the relationship between weather, nature, and wine.
The harvest has always been a process guided by patience. Winemakers would observe the vines, feel the climate, and only harvest when the grapes were perfectly ripe. The best moment of the harvest was when the fruit achieved the ideal balance of sugar, acidity, and aroma.
For generations, this meant waiting until the end of September or the start of October. Nature set the rhythm and the calendar.
Over the past 30 years, something has shifted: grape harvests are occurring increasingly earlier. Today, in many wine regions, the optimal moment for harvesting arrives as early as late August.
The main reason is climate change. Rising temperatures cause grapes to ripen more quickly. What once took weeks now happens in far less time.
Every day counts. Every change in temperature, wind, or rainfall can alter the destiny of the grape and, consequently, the wine.
The precise moment of the harvest is crucial because it defines the wine’s profile. An early harvest can produce wines that are higher in alcohol and less fresh, while waiting too long can compromise the balance of the grape.
This is why winemakers remain constantly vigilant: tasting the berries, observing their colour, measuring sugar and acidity levels. Harvesting at exactly the right moment is what transforms a simple bunch of grapes into an exceptional wine.
Climate change does not only affect the harvest calendar. In fact, it is redefining the entire winemaking process.
From France to Portugal, and Italy to Germany, earlier harvests have become the rule rather than the exception. This compels producers to adapt: planting grape varieties more resistant to heat, adjusting agricultural practices, and reinventing traditions once thought immutable.
Despite the changes, one thing remains constant: the harvest continues to be a labour of patience, care, and collaboration.
It is nature that decides the exact day, but it is up to the winemakers to be ready to act at the right moment. This balance between the invisible hand of nature and the visible effort of human labour is what gives rise to wines that tell stories.
We can prepare everything: the baskets, the scissors, the winery. But we can never choose the exact day of the harvest. The harvest does not follow a calendar. It answers only to the rhythm of nature.
It is this delicate dance between weather, climate, the ripening grapes, and human devotion that gives each bottle from Dízimos its singular story.
A toast to patience, tradition, and respect for the rhythm of nature.
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