THE STRONG ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE GRAPE HARVEST IN THE OLTREPO‘ PAVESE AREA

 The grape harvest, in general and for our territory in particular, represents not only that seasonal activity that identifies the end of summer or the beginning of autumn, but also that delicate moment with a strong economic impact both for the winery, which harvests the fruit of its labours, and for commercial activities, from sales to catering.

The winegrowing culture of the Oltrepò has been handed down from generation to generation and has ancient origins. Suffice it to think of documents dating back to Pliny or Strabo who, in 40 B.C. when passing with a Roman legion, identified the territory as follows: ‘good wine, hospitable people and very large wooden barrels‘.

Over the centuries, the area‘s wine-growing culture has remained virtually unchanged despite the modern use of machinery that has made it possible to alleviate some of the hard work involved in production. The form of associationism has made its way,

 and wine tourism sector.

The practice of grape harvesting dates back to ancient times. The first evidence of wine production dates back more than 8,000 years in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia. In Roman times, great importance was attached to the grape harvest and they had a goddess called Bacchus (or Dionysus in Greek mythology) dedicated to wine, festivals and the grape harvest.

Some astrological traditions believe that the phases of the moon influence the quality of grapes and are able to determine the best time for harvesting. For instance, it is believed that grapes harvested during a crescent moon taste better and are more resistant to preservation processes.

Today, the crushing of grapes is often mechanised even though, in some traditional wine cellars, the grapes are still crushed on foot during the grape harvest, thus maintaining strong links with ancient traditions and, in a marketing perspective, enhancing the value of their high quality wines.

Still on the subject of links to traditions, many winegrowers still prefer manual harvesting because it allows them to select the best grapes more carefully and avoid damage to the plants.

Harvesting is inextricably linked to art. Indeed, it has been a popular subject in works of art throughout history. Paintings and depictions of grape harvest scenes can be found in different cultures and artistic periods.

In conclusion, therefore, whether with the strictest respect for wine-growing traditions or with the use of modern machinery, what counts is the quality of local production. It is the pride of the territory and an instrument for relaunching an entire broad sector capable of generating an economic flywheel of a thousand resources.