The 2026 harvest as told by the winemaker
The 2026 harvest was marked by a spring with good rainfall and generally mild weather, which encouraged excellent vine vigour and early flowering. During the flowering stage, conditions were particularly favourable, allowing for an excellent fruit set. The following months, however, were very hot and saw very little rainfall.
The grapes reached outstanding levels in terms of health and visual quality, although the high temperatures recorded at all altitudes prevented the usual day-to-night temperature variation that is so typical of our foothill vineyards.
This unusual situation led us to fear a loss of aromatic freshness. Instead, probably thanks to the good water reserves accumulated during spring, it was surprising to find in the musts those aromatic notes we thought had been lost.
We can say with confidence that nature is full of unexpected resources.
A centuries-old ritual, carried out entirely by hand
For Col Vetoraz and the Miotto family, the harvest is an ancient ritual: eagerly awaited and approached with the awareness that every choice made in the vineyard will influence the character of the wines.
Col Vetoraz has always harvested its grapes exclusively by hand. This is not only a necessity linked to the hillside nature of the territory, but also a conscious choice of respect and quality. Hand harvesting allows us to preserve the vine, keep the bunches intact and carefully identify the most suitable grapes from the very moment they are picked. In a landscape made up of slopes, different exposures and small vineyard plots, the human hand remains an essential part of the work.
The art of waiting for the ideal moment
Every vineyard has its own timing, exposure and balance. This is why the Col Vetoraz harvest does not follow a fixed calendar, but begins with careful observation of each individual plot. Grapes are not picked simply when they are generically “ready”. They are harvested when each vineyard reaches its own ideal balance: when ripeness, freshness, aromas and structure come together in harmony.
This is where experience, sensitivity and knowledge of the territory become decisive. Reading the vineyard means interpreting the vintage and guiding the grapes towards their finest expression.
Every vineyard remains unique
When the grapes arrive at the winery, each vineyard is kept separate and vinified individually, in order to preserve its identity, original characteristics and balance.
This method allows us to respect the diversity of each plot and to understand with precision what every vineyard is capable of expressing. On average, only 70% of the grapes delivered are considered suitable to become Col Vetoraz sparkling wine.
It is a rigorous choice, one that transforms the complexity of the territory into quality, consistency and style.
From the vineyard to the Col Vetoraz style
Hand harvesting, waiting for the ideal moment and vinifying each vineyard separately are all part of the same vision: respecting origin and transforming it into balance. This path gives life to Col Vetoraz Valdobbiadene DOCG wines, capable of expressing the territory through finesse, precision and identity. Each vintage brings different conditions, but the method remains constant: to observe, to understand, to preserve.
