On the hills between Bardolino, Lazise and the Veronese hinterland, the 2026 harvest began on September 14, about a week earlier than average. It’s a special vintage for another reason too: the Bardolino Consortium turns one hundred. The first «Consorzio di difesa del vino tipico Bardolino» (Bardolino Typical Wine Protection Consortium) was founded in 1926, among the very first in Italy; the modern Consortium was established in 1969, and in April 2026, at Vinitaly, it received the «100 anni d’eccellenza» (100 Years of Excellence) award. Celebrations are scheduled for October 9-11, 2026, right after the harvest wraps up.
The 2026 Vintage in Numbers
The appellation covers about 2,400 hectares, and the Consortium brings together more than 800 members, accounting for 92% of production. For 2026, around 20 million bottles are expected, split evenly between Bardolino and Chiaretto. The grapes came in healthy, with high sugar levels and good acidity, promising well-balanced wines; volumes will be slightly below average due to the summer heat and low rainfall, while a few limited areas suffered hail damage. «Sarà una vendemmia degna del Centenario» («This will be a harvest worthy of the Centenary»), said president Fabio Dei Micheli, presenting the data.
What’s Produced Here
Three wines, all made from the same local grapes, led by Corvina alongside Rondinella and Molinara. Bardolino DOC is the light, fresh red meant to be drunk young, even served slightly chilled in summer; its Novello version comes out in November. Chiaretto di Bardolino is the lake’s rosé, still or sparkling, which today accounts for half of production and is the wine found in every bar along the lakefront. Bardolino Superiore DOCG is the more structured version, and since 2018 there have been three subzones reflecting the different terrains of the Veronese shore: Montebaldo on the mountain slopes, La Rocca on the morainic hills overlooking the lake, Sommacampagna towards the plain.
Experiencing the Harvest as a Visitor
September and October are the best time to visit the Veronese shore: mild temperatures, quieter lakefronts and wineries in full swing. Some concrete ideas:
- Festa dell’Uva e del Vino (Grape and Wine Festival), October 1-5: 95th edition, winery stands along the lakefront, a parade on Sunday and fireworks over the water. On Friday and Saturday there are the «Tra vigne e uliveti» («Among Vineyards and Olive Groves») walks with winery tastings, bookable at bardolinotop.it.
- Strada del Vino Bardolino (Bardolino Wine Road): the route through the inland vineyards, to explore by car, bike or on foot from one winery to the next.
- Museo del Vino (Wine Museum) at the Zeni winery in Bardolino: tools, the history of Lake Garda winegrowing and a final tasting.
- Cantina del Chiaretto (Chiaretto Cellar): to see where the lake’s rosé is actually born.
- The Centenary celebrations, October 9-11: the programme will be published by the Consortium at consorziobardolino.it; we’ll update our event page as details come in.
Practical Information
Consorzio di Tutela Chiaretto e Bardolino, Villa Carrara-Bottagisio, Riva Cornicello 3, Bardolino; tel. +39 045 6212567, segreteria@consorziobardolino.it, consorziobardolino.it. Many wineries in the area open for visits and tastings by appointment: during harvest, it’s best to write a few days ahead. Data source: Consortium press release, September 16, 2026.
