The exceptional heat which has hit Italy over the past week, especially in the south, will force wine growers to anticipate their grape harvest by at least a month, the Confederation of Italian Farmers (Cia) said.

According to the Cia this year's usual weather is expected to produce an abundant harvest of quality grapes.

The early harvest, Cia explained, will be necessary not only because of the heat wave but even more so because of the hottest winter and spring on record, over 200 years.

The harvest of the so-called early grapes -- Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Primitive -- is now expected to begin in early August.

August, rather than September, will also see the harvest of the most of the wine crop, including the Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Barbera and Merlot grapes, the Cia said.

The late maturing grapes, which are usually picked towards the middle of October, are now expected to be picked some time in September.

According to Cia, this year's harvest will be 3-4 percent more than last year and produce just over 49 million hectoliters of wine.

Overall quality of this year's wine should be good and in some cases excellent, Cia observed, with alcohol levels higher than last year.

Source: Xinhua