2023 Tuscany
Daniele Zeffirini of FULIGNI
The 2023 growth cycle was complicated from a cultivation point of view. Spring was very cool and rainy. Flowering was late and there was a lot of rain and humidity, which created problems with the canopy.
August was very hot with some hail, which fortunately did not affect our hillside. Thanks to the climate in the north/northeast of Montalcino and timely treatments, the quality of the grapes is very high, though quantities will be about 20-25% lower.
September was very sunny and warm with cool nights that allowed for complete phenolic ripening.
Harvest began in late September and ended 5 October. The wines have excellent structure, freshness, and balance. Very high level – an excellent future Brunello!
Franco Bernabei of MONTE ANTICO, SUPREMUS, VINETTI DE FIORINI and TOSCOLO
Spring began with high temps, which led to early budbreak, rich in inflorescence. May temperatures were lower than average, allowing phenological ripening to get on track. Abundant rains led to some Perenospora, creating a sort of “natural selection” of the grapes thus somewhat lower quantities. However, the quality was unaffected.
Once summer began, it was very hot and dry, with excellent day/night temperature swings and very few storms.
Late August saw some rain and lower temps overnight, which allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, leading to an excellent aromatic profile and complete polyphenolic ripeness.
Andrea Costanti of COSTANTI
Harvest for us ended 4 October. The careful and continual work in the vineyard allowed us to pick perfectly healthy grapes in spite of the irregular weather. Quantities will be slightly lower though.
Francesca Dal Cero of TENUTA MONTECCHIESI
In Cortona, Syrah and Sangiovese for Miraly Rosé and Vermentino were picked in early September and the quality is good, though quantities are down. Summer arrived a bit late, but it didn’t cause any issues for us.
Alberto Fusi of ARILLO IN TERRABIANCA
The 2023 season was unusual due to abundant spring rains: there were some difficulties maintaining optimal health of the grapes given how wet the leaves stayed. However, we managed to contain a loss in production on all our estates, ensuring a balanced grape yield. The arrival of summer brought the situation back to normal. Good water reserves in the soil allowed the plants to easily withstand the heat waves.
In Maremma, we will finish harvesting around October 10th, while in Radda we will try to extend it until the 20th. Initial fermentation tells us that it will be a very good vintage thanks to unexpected balance between the nose and palate.
Giovanni Frascolla of POGGIOARGENTIERA
I am personally very satisfied with this harvest. It wasn’t an easy spring in terms of rain, but in the Maremma, we didn’t have problems with Peronospora.
After a very wet May and early June, it was sunny all the way until harvest ended, with sporadic light showers. Thus we are very happy with the results in terms of quantity and quality.
We expect perfumed and elegant wines, thanks to a slow and constant ripening of the grapes, especially from our sloped vineyards.
Gioia Cresti of CARPINETA FONTALPINO
It was a difficult vintage, ever since spring, with continual rainfall that caused problems for fruit set and created other issues like Peronospora. But the summer was very hot and this allowed the grapes to ripen well.
Production this year will be lower, but fortunately, not in terms of quality! The (little) wine we were able to make is evolving really well!
Davide Zamperini of FATTORIA LORNANO
The 2023 harvest saw a 15% reduction in quantity, which, however, resulted in greater concentration and quality of the grapes. The growing cycle began with a lot of rain, followed by a period of high temperatures. As the grapes reached peak maturation, there were great day/night temperature swings, which significantly contributed to ensuring excellent phenolic maturation.
In terms of sustainability, we take pride in maintaining our SQNPI certification. We rigorously adhered to phytosanitary management programs, achieving our annual environmental objectives.
Now we are working the vineyards for the upcoming year, sowing fava beans for green manure/sovescio.
We remain deeply committed to the production of high-quality wines, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and the preservation of our traditions.
Filippo Chia of CASTELLO ROMITORIO
The 2023 vintage saw a lot of rain in May and June, which gave way to a very hot summer that lasted through September and beyond. The season was weakened by sudden and abundant rains. This led to a delay in flowering and overall ripening.
September was very hot but in line with the seasonal trends. Rain mid-month slowed the growth cycle somewhat and because of this we picked the fruit over a few days. The plants were able to reabsorb the excess water and restabilize the organoleptic components of the grapes.
We expect a bit less in quantity but excellent quality.
Stefania Bussotti of CIGNALE
The 2023 growth cycle was conditioned by the weather in May and June (with continual rains and high humidity), which led to the development of Peronospora in almost all of Tuscany and Italy in general. We were able to stop the development of the disease and contain any damage. The rest of the season went well, with medium high temperatures and very little rain. The grapes ripened on the later side, about 10-12 days later than 2022. Quantities are down about 10-15% but the quality is good for the Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet grapes.