(Wine-Searcher) - After a lousy 2014 harvest, growers and producers are keeping their fingers crossed as the grapes ripen.

It's still early to be talking about the quality of the 2015 vintage, but Italian growers are simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief and keeping their fingers crossed after a poor 2014.

Generally, life is looking up for growers across Italy this year, with good rain levels in the early part of the season offset by blazing heat in July. So far, so good, but there is some concern among growers about the intensity of the heat, although weather forecasts suggest a cooler August.

"For now there is no problem," said Leonardo Valenti, professor of viticulture at the University of Milan and consultant to major companies throughout Italy. "Water reserves accumulated in winter and spring are still active. Of course, the lighter soils will see some [vineyards] suffering more. There is some mention of early ripening but, except for the sparkling wine bases that should go to harvest in mid-August, it seems to me that the time of harvest is normal."

The heat stopped respiration in the grapes, he added, meaning that photosynthesis and the ripening process were slowed.

Most growers are just happy that the vintage is better than last year, when rain, hail and cool temperatures combined to give the smallest harvest in 50 years.

"The vineyards are in good health, from Friuli to Piedmont and from Sardinia to Sicily," said Donato Lanati, head of the Enosis-Wonder research center and a consultant to several wineries. "Yields are also good and we should have an abundant production. The vines are not under stress and veraison is slightly ahead of schedule."

Tuscan enologist Carlo Ferrini was enthusiastic about the coming vintage. "The state of health of the grapes is perfect; the vineyards are in marvelous condition. But the heat is very high and I hope it subsides. The vine is a bit like us humans – with too much heat it falls asleep, and this is not a good thing. "

Giuseppe Caviola, one of the most successful winemakers in Piedmont, is quietly confident about the 2015 vintage. "The winter and spring have guaranteed a good supply of water and, despite temperatures currently, I will only harvest a little early, but it's a bit too early to tell with certainty."