Climate change pushes Portuguese winemakers to harvest grapes earlier

Winegrowers in Portugal are bringing forward their harvest dates this year, a shift driven by the effects of climate change on the region's weather patterns. Producers are having to adjust as the traditional harvest period no longer suits optimal grape quality.

Heat and drought create challenges

One of the main difficulties comes from increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, which combined with drought conditions affect how grapes ripen. High temperatures can speed up the development of the berries, meaning growers must act faster to avoid missing the ideal harvesting window.

Rainfall during ripening

Adding to the challenge, unexpectedly heavy rainfall during the ripening period is also causing problems. This combination of extremes — drought and heat on one hand, sudden downpours on the other — makes vineyard management more difficult and is pushing the industry to rethink how it plans the harvest.

The impact of climate change on wine production is not unique to Portugal — other European wine regions face similar challenges. However, in Portugal's case, it is already translating into concrete action: harvesting earlier in order to preserve the quality of the grapes and, ultimately, the wine.