Another vintage has arrived at the winery; another harvest is now behind us. 2026 proved to be a memorable year thanks to its distinctive weather. Winter brought a severe cold snap with a blanket of snow the likes of which we hadn’t seen in a long time, whilst summer was marked by heatwaves. Let’s now take a look at what the weather was like in Villány that year, and how it affected the vines and the wine made from them.
The winter rainfall and cold were important for the health of the vines and the soil’s water supply. The cold kills pests living in the vineyard, whilst the rain and snow seep into the soil, providing nourishment for the vines throughout the year.
Nature sprang into action early in the spring, which was already a sign that we were likely to face an early harvest; indeed, even the summer heat did not slow down the pace in the vineyard – the bunches developed and ripening was rapid, so this year, too, we began the harvest on 6 August, based on laboratory results, visual inspection and tasting. Vigilance and prompt harvesting decisions were once again required to ensure the grapes arrived at the winery at their optimal stage of ripeness.
Andrea Gere assessed the vintage as follows: “Yields are below average, but more importantly, the wines of the 2026 vintage are made from healthy grapes with complex aromas and substantial body. We are expecting promising wines of high quality.”
On 17 September, the last grapes rolled off the sorting table, marking the earliest end to a harvest in the winery’s history. The wines have now finished fermenting, malolactic fermentation went smoothly, and some of the reds are already maturing in barrels. Work is now taking place mainly in the ageing cellar rather than the processing area. And, of course, in the bottling room, as we have already bottled the Olaszrizling and the rosé, and the Frici sparklers will follow shortly.
