Night-time grape harvest is Alentejo estate's answer to extreme heat
More frequent heatwaves are changing how winegrowers work. In Alentejo, one of Portugal's hottest regions, an estate now harvests at night to improve working conditions.
On a dark night, workers wearing helmets and driving tractors illuminate a field with their headlights at Herdade das Servas, an estate in Portugal’s Alentejo region. Maria Jerónima Mendes, one of the dozens of people involved in picking grapes, shared with AFP that the switch to night-time harvesting has not disrupted their work and that the light she carries has made it easier to see the grapes.
This change, which began as a test in 2024, has become standard practice since the following year. It is a response to extreme heat and frequent extreme weather events in Alentejo, where summer temperatures often soar to 35-38 degrees Celsius, with occasional peaks higher due to heatwaves linked to climate change. Renato Neves, a local winemaker and oenologist, explained that night-time harvesting is no longer just an option but an unavoidable reality for producers in the region as outdoor work becomes increasingly challenging in such harsh conditions.
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