Hi all,
I'm helping a friend plan a trip to Italy and Croatia this fall. He's wondering when wine harvest in Tuscany and Piedmont will take place, or at least a rough idea. Oddly, traditional google searching has been very low yield in this respect and I've been unable to find good information on Wine Berserkers, or other specialized sites. And ideas of timing would be very helpful. Many thanks in advance.

You are looking for general info within a big swath of area with various climates covering different grape varieties.

For example, if you look for micro area info, such as Sangiovese grape for Brunello in Montalcino region, you find info like this http://www.mapitout-montalcino.com/2...vest-time.html. I was in that region at that general time last year and it so happened that I hit the winery during the harvest time.

Harvest time might not necessarily be a good time for visit. I had difficulty finding a winery willing to entertain visitor. Many were too busy with the harvest.

Well, it's a crop and entirely dependent, from one small area to another, on weather and climate, which has been very unpredictable and changing this year. There is simply no way to tell. The vintners around here usually decide the night before when they're going to initiate the harvest - at least this year this is what they're saying because the season has been so miserable.

And as Greg mentions, the last thing a vintner wants is strangers hanging around when finally the grapes are ripe and it's time to harvest. You cannot imagine how busy they are.

You are both absolutely right. He's hoping to time his visits AFTER harvest for all of the reasons you've named and that's why we're trying to sort out when (ish) they'll be in the thick of it. I appreciate your responses though. Knowing how unpredictable the climate(s) have been this year, I think he's just trying to get a better sense of how late he can push his travel plans.

Its not that hard to find wineries to visit in Piedmont during harvest. You just need to call in advance. The smaller ones won't have time, but the midsize to large, no problem. You might not meet the winemaker though.

Not sure if your friend wants to help with the harvest or just visit? I'm just talking about tastings/visits.

Harvest is generally mid to late September in Piedmont but as mentioned above there are many variables.

Your friend might consider getting a guide for a day in Tuscany and/or Piedmont - they will know who to visit and make all the necessary arrangements.

It would be enormously helpful if you pal can speak Italian.

Italian wineries do not operate under state triggers (unlike say Germany) , so it is up to the farmer. The grape harvest rather than say the green harvest will occur anytime between mid August and late October depending on the sugar levels and type of wine being produced though the majority will be harvested in September.

The harvest is not an especially interesting time to visit and in fact it is often hard to talk to staff as they are so busy.

In both areas harvest has already started and will go deep into October / early november depending on specific area and winery and the kind of wine they make....