Those who have even modest volumes of both seedless and traditional grapes in the coming weeks could make a very good income given that on the shelves of some Italian supermarkets the product reaches €10/kg. The lack of supply is structural, with the risk of not being able to extend the commercial calendar until the next Christmas holidays.
In Puglia, it is difficult to find vineyards where grape clusters are still hanging. The producers have finished the 2024 season, and the harvested volumes have all been stored in the cellars.
“I delivered my last grapes a few days ago. I never remember such high prices for traditional cultivars (we are talking about €2.00/kg). A breath of fresh air, certainly, but you should know that the volumes are not at all there. No one got richer, because we recorded drops of up to 50% on the ground,” explains Puglia entrepreneur Benny Porcelli.
“Until two years ago, a serious market crisis forced us, the producers, to sell our grapes at prices between €0.30 and €0.40/kg. Many even brought large quantities of grapes to the winegrowers in desperation, the same grapes that we sold this time for unimaginable amounts. We are told that consumers prefer seedless varieties, but we wonder why traditional cultivars, if not really preferred, now have similar market values. Never before have both types been present on supermarket shelves as they have been this year, making it clear what consumers are really choosing to buy. I believe that indigenous varieties, for which handling costs are higher, will continue to have their own commercial value, perhaps by entering niche markets. In our region this year, the areas of seedless grapes have exceeded those of traditional grapes. And there are those who, even today, after having harvested and finished the season, prefer to pull them out and replace them with more modern grapes. »
