A look at the 2026 harvest: the earliest in our history

Paco de la Rosa Torelló checking the quality of the grapes

Tuesday the 28th of July, we started the 2026 harvest, the 76th since Torelló started to make sparkling wine. It has been the earliest in our memory, we had never harvested so early: this year 14 days earlier than in 2025. This was because of the very high temperatures, as much in June as in July and August, with various heatwaves accelerating the maturing process of the grapes. The summer of 2026 has been the hottest ever registered in Catalunya and the Penedès. Our head of viticulture, Quim Isart, explains that “the fact of starting to harvest in the very early hours – something we have been doing for more than 10 years – has been more important than ever in 2026. At night the temperatures are lower, and that helps the harvesters to bear a day of harvesting much better.”

At Torelló the harvest takes place at night

This year “we have increased the pressing of the whole grape, without destemming, that is, without separating the grape from the stalk to more than 100.000 kilos. This technique is more respectful of the inherent characteristics of the grape and achieves a cleaner must with less oxidation” clarifies Paco de la Rosa Torelló.  He also adds that “this 2026 the black Grenache has had a special protagonism not only in terms of our rosé and red wines but also for the rosé and white base wines when they are vinified without the skins”.

A large part of the harvest is collected in 25 kg crates

Our oenologist, Marc Martin, highlights, on the one hand, “that many of the base wines and still wines that we make come from a single vineyard” and on the other “we have had lower grape production but with an impeccable state of health”. Starting from now the oenology team will be alert to ensure the best finalisation of the vinifications. After yet another campaign we appreciate the work carried out by all the protagonists of 2026 harvest on the Can Martí Estate.