Growing grapes under solar panels produces surprisingly delicious wines

Grapes grown under solar panels ripen more slowly and are of better quality, resulting in delicious wines.

In the town of Laterza, Taranto province (Italy), La Svolta winery has deployed a solar energy system on its vineyards to produce high-quality wines and clean energy. This is a milestone for sustainable agriculture.

Solar panels installed in the vineyards slow down the ripening process of the grapes, extending the harvest time by 4 weeks compared to the vineyards without solar panels. The quality of the wine is not reduced but is even better. Thanks to the shading of the solar panels, the temperature around the vines is regulated, protecting them from harsh weather. This is a very important solution in the context of climate change.

La Svolta grows two main grape varieties: Primitivo, a red grape typical of Southern Italy, and Goldtraminer , an aromatic white grape variety typically grown in the cool alpine region of Trentino.

La Svolta vineyard. (Photo: Vinetur).

The Goldtraminer grape variety is not suited to warm climates. The photovoltaic panels help keep the climate below at a lower level, protecting the vines from direct sunlight, thereby extending the ripening period and providing better quality control.

One advantage of the extended ripening process is that the sugar content of the grapes gradually increases. For both Primitivo and Goldtraminer, sugar levels exceed expectations, promising wines with more depth and complexity.

La Svolta predicts an exceptionally good crop this year, with the Goldtraminer grape variety adapting impressively to the warmer climate thanks to growing under photovoltaic panels.

Not only do solar panels extend the harvest season, they also protect vines from the summer heat. Research from the Universities of Verona and Bari shows that agro-photovoltaic systems can reduce water stress on plants by up to 20%, optimizing water use, an increasingly important factor as droughts become more frequent.

Additionally, grapevines grown under these panels are more likely to grow healthier than those exposed to full sunlight. Partial shading helps regulate temperature and wind speed, contributing to higher yields and better fruit quality.

Photovoltaic panels shade grapes. (Photo: Vinetur).

The efficiency of agriculture and photovoltaics has been proven in practice. In Puglia, the vineyards of La Svolta harvested earlier than usual due to the harsh summer temperatures. Meanwhile, the photovoltaic system at Vigna Agrivoltaica allowed the vines to grow more slowly, delaying the harvest and allowing for more balanced acidity and sugar levels. 

By late August, Primitivo grapes under solar panels measured 21 degrees of sugar, the ideal sugar content for winemaking, while grapes in vineyards exposed to full sunlight exceeded 25 degrees of sugar, too ripe to ferment wine.

In addition to the Primitivo and Goldtraminer grape varieties, combining photovoltaics and viticulture also yielded positive results with the Falanghina variety, a white grape variety known for its high natural acidity, ideal for the production of sparkling wines.

Falanghina grown under solar panels is particularly conducive to the development of sparkling wines using the traditional method, thanks to the cool, slow-ripening conditions created by the panels.

Thin-film photovoltaic system is installed on 3 hectares of land. The panels are tilted to optimize solar energy collection, withstand the wind of the area, capacity 970 kWp.

According to La Svolta, the dual solar energy and wine production model is ecologically and economically efficient, generating clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to sustainable environmental development. The system also increases agricultural production, bringing clear economic benefits thanks to improved grape quality and yield.