But why do some wineries decide to harvest at night? What are the advantages of night harvesting? In our article we will see the reasons behind this choice.

Night harvesting: what are the advantages?

Night harvesting is a practice that aims to take advantage of the temperature variations between day and night to harvest grapes in the best possible environmental conditions, safeguarding the quality of the grapes.

Among the main advantages of this type of harvest are the lower temperatures compared to daytime temperatures. In some wine-growing areas there are notable differences between the temperatures recorded during the day and those recorded during the night (for example, in the warmest months even 35°C during the day and up to 15°C at night). The lower temperatures allow those who practice the harvest to work more comfortably and effectively. In short, the working conditions are better.

Furthermore, night harvesting protects some of the fundamental properties of the grapes. Specifically, night harvesting ensures better preservation of the aromatic profile of the grapes, keeping their typical aromas unaltered. The plant reacts to thermal stress by swelling the grapes during the day and retracting them at night, collecting and concentrating the aromatic compounds.

The temperature range makes the skin more elastic. As a result, the grapes, at night, are more concentrated, resistant and compact and therefore easier to collect, handle and transport: the grapes are less subject to damage and are less pressed during their transport to the cellar, avoiding the risk of breakages, early fermentations, dangerous oxidative phenomena and volatilization of the aromas that, otherwise, would compromise their quality.

Finally, the grapes harvested at night arrive in the cellar at a lower temperature than the daytime average, allowing energy conservation. Above all, it saves on the energy used to artificially cool the areas where the grapes are stored before pressing.

Where is night harvesting practiced?

Night harvesting originated in Sicily, where it was tested a few decades ago and where it is now a traditional event. It was then also used in other areas of Italy and of the world. In some countries, it is also practiced for its scenic and spectacular effect, as well as for its advantages.

This type of harvest was born from the need to deal with particular climatic situations characterized by significant temperature variations between day and night. And it is precisely in these conditions that it represents a valid solution.

Finally, night harvesting is perfect for those varieties of white grapes that are more sensitive to light, heat and thermal stress and with an important aromatic set or for those vines that form the basis for the production of sparkling wines. Consider that the first experiments were conducted on Chardonnay grapes, already in the 90s.