Four Countries, Seven Producers, and the 2025 Harvest
Seven producers from Italy, France, the United States, and New Zealand share their insights on the 2025 harvest in exclusive interviews with Saatolog. Different lands, familiar stories, and one unifying passion…
It’s rare to find something in life that always begins with the same thrill. Not only is it hard to start—but sustaining that excitement over time is an even greater challenge. The chaos of daily life, a turbulent global order, worsening climate conditions, and our increasingly distant inner worlds all conspire to dull that spark. For some, this persistence is a purpose; for others, it is what the Japanese call ikigai—a reason for being. Yet, in today’s world, such devotion feels like a difficult state to attain. And still, production stands tall in the face of all these obstacles. From art to writing, from imagination to soil, every act of creation continues to pursue passion against the rigid dynamics of our age.
One could certainly write the story of a harvest in more technical terms. In the interviews below, you will indeed find discussions of climate effects, yields, and harvest rates. But here, let’s view these notes from another angle—from the emotions of a vast community that eagerly awaits this same season each year, from the collective joy it brings.
In last month’s article, “2025 Harvest Panorama,” our colleague Doğuhan Atış traced this anticipation across Turkey’s vineyards. Now, we listen for the echoes of that same passion across the world. Seven producers—from Italy, France, the U.S., and New Zealand—reflect on the 2025 harvest in conversations held exclusively with Saatolog: different regions, familiar sentiments, and one shared devotion. To the producers, farmers, workers, label designers, and to all who await the moment these wines meet the world—to those who leave traces of labor, patience, and love in every sip—we offer our deepest respect.
La Scolca – Italy
Chiara Soldati, CEO
Perched on the rolling hills of Piedmont’s Gavi region, the vineyards of La Scolca are caressed by sea breezes and nourished by mineral-rich soil. Representing the family’s fourth generation, Chiara Soldati leads the brand with a deep respect for tradition—balanced by a commitment to innovation.
How would you describe the 2025 harvest in three words?
Bright, meticulous, and balanced. These three words capture the radiance of the season, the precision and care invested in every stage of the harvest, and the sense of harmony found in each cluster of grapes.
Which products will the 2025 harvest be a turning point for?
This year represents a true evolution for our most iconic wine. The 2025 harvest has yielded a depth and complexity that will surprise even our most loyal followers. We are also preparing a limited-edition bottle crafted from a single vineyard selection, designed to celebrate the distinctive character of this remarkable season.
Do you have any consumption recommendations for this year’s grapes?
The wines of 2025 can certainly be enjoyed fresh; yet they also possess an impressive structure. For those who enjoy cellaring, a few years of gentle aging will reveal new layers of minerality and delicate, evolving aromas.
What is the difference compared to 2024?
Compared with 2024, the very first sip of the 2025 vintage unveils a more vivid tension—a dance between citrus brightness and refined floral notes. This interplay is supported by a silky texture and a persistent, elegant finish. It is a year where freshness meets unexpected depth.
What challenges did you face during the harvest?
The season tested us with erratic rainfall and warm late-summer evenings. Yet through attentive vineyard management and meticulous timing, we turned these challenges into strengths—capturing both concentration and balance, without ever compromising on elegance.
Piper-Heidsieck – Champagne, France
Émilien Boutillat, Head Winemaker
Located in the Montagne de Reims area of Champagne, Piper-Heidsieck’s vineyards rest on limestone-rich soils that have long shaped the region’s signature style. Émilien Boutillat, the house’s head winemaker, continues this storied legacy while infusing it with a distinctly contemporary vision.
How would you summarize the 2025 harvest?
Early. Record-breaking. Unprecedented. The harvest began on August 19, one of the earliest dates in Champagne’s history. The grapes ripened extraordinarily fast throughout August, producing a vintage notable for its high sugar concentration, intense aromatic expression, and remarkable freshness. These rare characteristics make the 2025 harvest truly one of a kind.
For which of your wines will the 2025 harvest be a turning point?
It’s still too soon to say. The wines have just completed fermentation, and we’ll begin tasting them from October through April, before the blending process begins. By early 2026, we’ll be able to give a more definitive answer.
Do you have any predictions about production?
Although it’s too early to fully gauge the aging potential, the first indications are promising. The 2025 harvest could very well produce a vintage with excellent longevity.
Where did you feel the impact of climate change most in the 2025 harvest?
The year 2025 was marked by significant heat, with multiple heat waves. Thankfully, the soil retained sufficient water reserves, allowing the vines to endure better than during other hot years such as 2015 or 2020. Still, the high temperatures led to an exceptionally early harvest—the grapes reached a level of ripeness rarely seen in Champagne.
What was your and your team’s favorite from the 2025 harvest?
It’s too early to make a final judgment, but based on our initial tastings, the Pinot Noir wines show exceptional balance this year. Let’s revisit this conversation in early 2026.
Ridge Vineyards – California, USA
Shauna Rosenblum, Head Winemaker
Surrounded by 115-year-old vines, Lytton Springs stands as one of the most distinctive areas in California’s Sonoma County. Ridge Vineyards has long been celebrated for its sustainable viticulture practices—an approach that underscores both respect for the land and a forward-looking philosophy. The winery’s symbolic stature was reaffirmed when its wines were served during King Charles III’s visit to the United States.
Can you summarize the 2025 harvest in three words?
Slow, steady, delicious.
How have you felt the effects of climate change in your vineyards?
We experienced a mild winter followed by a balanced growing season. However, harvests now begin much earlier than they did two or three decades ago. This year, we started picking on August 19—a sign of how our rhythms continue to shift.
Is there a product you are particularly excited about?
Naturally, the entire team is most excited about the bottle that bears our name—our signature wine, the essence of Ridge’s identity and craft.
Te Mata Estate – New Zealand
Toby Buck, European, UK & Dubai Market Manager
Located in Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island, Te Mata Estate is one of the country’s oldest and most esteemed wineries. Representing the new generation of a 130-year-old family legacy, Toby Buck oversees the winery’s presence across Europe and the Middle East, carrying forward a proud heritage of excellence.
Can you summarize the 2025 harvest in three words?
Intensity. Concentration. Color.
What stands out for you in this year’s harvest?
This year marks our 130th anniversary, and to celebrate, we are preparing a special edition of our flagship wine. As New Zealand’s oldest winery, this milestone carries deep emotional and historical significance.
The 2025 harvest will also mark a turning point for our Chardonnay—or at least, that’s my hope. New Zealand Chardonnays already represent some of the best value and quality in the world, and our Hawke’s Bay range ranks among the country’s finest. The strength of this year’s harvest will further reinforce that reputation.
Do you have any consumption predictions for this year’s products?
I recommend enjoying our Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines immediately—they are bursting with freshness and fruit. That said, they will also age gracefully over the next few years. Our oak-aged reds, however, need time—ideally one to two years before reaching their peak, or at least a good decanting before serving. Oxygen is their friend; we want them bright, lively, and expressive when enjoyed. The only exception is our Cabernet blend—that one should rest in the cellar for ten to twenty years. Be patient, if you can.
What will wine lovers feel when they take their first sip of this year’s harvest?
They will be struck first by the intensity of color and concentration, but without any over-ripeness. The fruit is bright and balanced, complemented by medium alcohol levels. The wines are powerful yet retain the freshness of our cool maritime climate. In a hot year like 2025, that balance has produced unexpectedly floral and aromatic wines—their heightened vibrancy will be the signature of this vintage.
Where did you feel the impact of climate change most in the 2025 harvest?
The skies above our vineyards are remarkably clear, giving us starry, cool nights and sunrises that paint the landscape in almost neon hues. This luminous environment benefits all fruit grown here—but the reason for such intense UV light lies in the thinness of the ozone layer. To protect our grapes, we now use shade nets and ensure that the canopy covers them completely. It’s an unusual practice for a so-called “cool-climate” winery, but increasingly necessary.
What excited you and your team the most about the 2025 harvest?
We have a deeply collaborative team culture at Te Mata—it feels a bit like sailing together on a boat, where everyone knows their role and rhythm. As an independent family estate, our greatest excitement lies in producing our most exceptional Cabernet blend yet. The world of fine wine is filled with challenges, but to craft our best bottle in this small corner of the world—after 130 years of dedication—is nothing short of extraordinary.
Donnafugata – Sicily, Italy
Laura Bertoni, Public Relations Manager
Known for its vineyards on Mount Etna and the island of Pantelleria, Donnafugata captures the diversity of Sicily’s many microclimates. According to Public Relations Manager Laura Bertoni, this diversity lies at the very heart of the brand’s identity.
Can you summarize the 2025 harvest in one sentence?
Promising, balanced, expressive.
What stood out in this year’s harvest?
Our Etna vineyards produced exceptional quality in 2025, with peak levels reported in several areas. Another highlight was the Ben Ryé series from our Pantelleria estate—despite low yields, the results were beyond excellent. Meanwhile, our Contessa Entellina vineyards showed a balanced return to normal and very promising quality overall.
We are not planning any special editions this year; instead, our focus remains on achieving the highest possible quality within our existing portfolio. In particular, we are devoting great attention to our volcanic terroirs, which offer distinctive expressions suitable for every palate and occasion.
Will there be a difference between this year’s harvest and last year’s?
We always strive for stylistic consistency—our wines should be recognizable. Yet we also respect the rhythm of each harvest, so subtle differences naturally emerge. Compared to last year, 2025 represents a return to normal: a cooler profile, greater freshness, and more clarity and tension in the glass.
Where did you feel the impact of climate change the most?
We experienced pressure on yields in Pantelleria, sudden temperature shifts in the western regions, and heavy rainfall on Etna. Each of these challenges required a highly localized approach—managing every vineyard and even every parcel individually.
What excited you most about the 2025 harvest?
In general, our volcanic wines continue to excite us the most, as these terroirs express themselves with extraordinary vividness and character.
Broglia – Piedmont, Italy
Roberto Broglia
Nestled in the heart of Gavi, the Broglia vineyards are defined by Piedmont’s cool breezes and limestone soils. In our conversation, Roberto Broglia—a member of the family that continues to run the estate—explained how their philosophy remains deeply rooted in the region’s long winemaking tradition.
How would you summarize the 2025 harvest?
It was an excellent year. A cold winter, a rainy yet balanced spring, and a warm summer with marked day–night temperature variations created ideal conditions for ripening. We are extremely satisfied with the quality of the fruit and the character of the wines—everything points to an outstanding vintage.
What will be the hallmark of this year?
The 2025 harvest will mark a turning point, especially for our flagship wine, which bears the name of our vineyard. Known for its elegance and minerality, this wine has reached a perfect balance this year—freshness, structure, and depth intertwine harmoniously, and that will be fully reflected in the 2025 release.
What differences did you observe compared to last year?
Wine lovers will notice a deeper, more harmonious expression, a richer texture, and a flawless equilibrium between freshness and structure. Compared to 2024, the 2025 vintage stands out for its sharper, more persistent minerality—an unmistakable reflection of our terroir.
Where did you feel the impact of climate change most in the 2025 harvest?
Overall, 2025 was a balanced year, but the long-term effects of climate change remain evident, particularly in rising summer temperatures. Grapes now reach higher natural sugar levels than in the past, resulting in richer, fuller wines. Thankfully, our cool nights and careful vineyard management allow us to preserve the freshness and mineral tension that define Broglia’s style.
Do you have any predictions for this year’s harvest? Which one will be your favorite?
Our greatest expectations are for the Cortese variety. Bottling will take place in April 2026, but even now, during tank tastings, the wine shows exceptional purity and mineral finesse. We’re confident it will stand among the most memorable vintages of recent years, reflecting both the grape and our terroir in their finest form.
Your vineyards are managed by three generations. Are there differences in perspective between generations? Would you say tradition or innovation prevails?
For us, the dialogue between tradition and innovation is not a conflict—it’s a value. We hold deep respect for our heritage and the timeless methods that have shaped our style, but we are equally committed to experimentation and progress, always in harmony with the land and the grape. Our goal is to preserve the identity of our wines while making them ever more elegant, balanced, and contemporary.
How does winemaking shape your family’s sense of unity?
Wine is the heartbeat of our family; it unites and defines us. We all bring our own perspectives and experiences, but we share the same passion and respect for the land. Each harvest becomes a moment of togetherness, when generations work side by side and our sense of belonging deepens. That shared spirit is what has shaped both our family and our wines into what they are today.
Louis Latour – Burgundy, France
Thomas Lignier, Export Manager
Stretching across the northern and southern slopes of the Côte d’Or, Louis Latour stands among Burgundy’s oldest family-run estates. Since the 18th century, the winery has carried forward a philosophy that adapts tradition to the challenges and conditions of each era.
How would you describe the 2025 harvest in three words?
Unusual, surprising, extraordinary.
What was the biggest difference this year?
The 2025 harvest began early—on August 20—due to successive heat waves and lasted longer than usual because of varying ripening times across Burgundy’s many terroirs. Rainfall in early September presented some challenges but did not affect overall quality. Although yields were lower, as expected, 2025 emerges as a vintage of exceptional promise.
Any tips for consumers?
From what we’ve seen so far, the wines show beautiful color, aromatic precision, and excellent balance. Fresh and fruit-driven, they have strong aging potential, though perhaps not as powerful as the celebrated 2005 and 2015 vintages.
What will wine lovers experience when they taste this year’s wines?
They will discover both red and white wines that are vibrant, fruity, and full of energy. The reds offer fine tannins and a well-rounded body, while the whites express purity and freshness—a true pleasure to drink.
Where did you feel the impact of climate change most in the 2025 harvest?
The vintage began with early budding in April and mild weather through June, signaling one of the earliest harvests in decades. Two heat waves—in June and again in August—brought high ripeness levels and reduced water content, concentrating the wines.
Do you or your team have a favorite from the 2025 harvest?
It’s still early to name a favorite, but we believe every wine lover will find the distinctive expression of Burgundy’s great terroirs shining clearly in the 2025 vintage.
