September in Italy: when the grape harvest and olive oil set the rhythm of the new season
September is the month when Italy hums with the grape harvest and is already getting ready to pick the olives. From the very first days, the wine regions come alive: sun-drenched bunches of grapes, teams out in the vineyards, celebrations and the first musts. But the tension is rising in the olive groves too: this is the moment to watch the fruit ripen, sharpen the equipment and prepare for the extraction season that often starts in October. Discovering the terroir of Italian olive oils helps you understand this twin agricultural tempo.
Every region has its own rituals: in Piedmont and Tuscany, the harvest comes with communal meals where the new olive oil is already being talked about; in Calabria and Sicily, the closeness of the two harvests gives rise to unique culinary pairings, like bread rubbed with fresh oil and eaten with the first cheeses and grapes.
Browse our terroir olive oils to carry these traditions on at home.
Why September is a key month for Italian producers
Harvest calendar and preparation
In Italy the grape harvest runs from late August to mid-October, peaking in September. The date you choose depends on the weather, on ripeness and on the style of wine you are after. At the same time, olive growers watch the colour and firmness of the olives change, anticipating the best window for producing a quality extra virgin olive oil. One does not go without the other: too much rain, a burst of heat, and the whole plan shifts.
Innovations and challenges of the 2026 season
This year, producers have to juggle the effects of climate change: droughts, sudden storms, uneven ripening. Some estates in Calabria are switching to night harvesting to keep the grapes fresh, while in the olive groves pruning and irrigation are being fine-tuned to guarantee healthy fruit in October.
For restaurants and fine food shops, September is the time to reserve lots of extra virgin olive oil in an exceptional jeroboam or in tins for autumn menus. Head to the trade area to plan ahead for what you need.
Rituals, festivals and flavours: the Italian food season starts again
Harvest festivals and early-autumn markets
In the villages the celebration is in full swing: fresh produce markets, tastings of the new wines, competitions for the finest bunches, but also the first jars of tomatoes, preserved aubergines and olives. Families keep up the tradition of bread with olive oil, dipped in the must or served with fresh cheeses and seasonal figs.
September pairings: grapes, olives, cheeses
The month brings unique combinations: focaccia with olive oil and grapes, toasts of new oil and ricotta, salads mixing figs, grapes and extra virgin olive oil. These are rituals you can easily bring home with a ripe fruity olive oil or by trying new early-autumn pairings.
Something unique: the double harvest in Calabria
In Calabria, some small villages see the grape harvest and the olive harvest overlap, especially for the early varieties. This rare phenomenon, dictated by the climate, shapes food traditions and unique moments of sharing, where you go from the wine press to the oil mill in a single afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is September the month of the grape harvest in Italy?
- When does the olive oil harvest start in Italy?
- Which Italian dishes celebrate the new season with grapes and olive oil?
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