The 2026 grape harvest in northern Italy, particularly in the region of Asti, was described as excellent despite a scorching summer. In Agliano Terme (Piedmont), a dozen grape pickers finished midday on Monday with the harvest of the last clusters of Barbera, a grape variety central to the region's popular red wines. Filippo Mobrici, president of the Barbera d'Asti Consortium, noted that the harvest started at the end of July, which is unprecedented. He described the vintage as the best in terms of both quantity and quality, calling it a "five-star harvest." The summer of 2026 was the hottest ever recorded in this region, with an average temperature of 21.6°C and peaks of 40°C near Agliano Terme in early August. However, a rainy winter and spring provided sufficient water reserves for the vines, allowing the grapes to mature under good conditions. Winemakers protected the clusters from the sun by retaining more foliage than usual. Producers of the Barbera d'Asti appellation have decided to limit volumes by reducing yields from 90 to 85 quintals per hectare. This decision comes amid concerns about overproduction in Italian regions, where markets have been disrupted by wars, American taxes, and younger generations drinking less. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, stocks in the cellars of the world's largest wine producer increased by 6.9% year-on-year in July, reaching the equivalent of more than 5.6 billion bottles. In the first half of 2026, the wine market was slow, with stocks at their highest level in four years and prices falling by an average of 10% year-on-year, according to the Italian Wine Union. Prosecco has the widest reserves but continues to sell well and export. Traditional red wines from Puglia and Tuscany are suffering more. In Piedmont, some viticulturists have chosen to convert part of their production into vinegar this year. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Wine Union (UIV), called for courageous choices to address overproduction, including the possibility of uprooting vines, which is not yet part of a national plan in Italy. However, Filippo Mobrici in Agliano Terme refused to consider uprooting, emphasizing that vineyards are an essential element of the region's culture and territory. In San Marzano Oliveto, Luca Garberoglio reported a good harvest and manageable stocks for the Barbera d'Asti region. He noted that the family estate Carussin has moved up a level through the production of organic wines exported mainly to Scandinavia. There are still 110 hectoliters of the 2025 vintage in the cellar, sufficient to supply the market until March 2027. Luca Garberoglio also observed that climate change is affecting the characteristics of Barbera d'Asti, with the wine evolving from traditional notes of cherry and plum to more concentrated aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry.