Vintage Reports

The weather was quite normal this season. Winter rain and snow replenished water reserves. Budburst was normal and all the gems opened, something that hasn’t happened in years. There was ample rain from May until early July, almost weekly, but temperatures remained within the average for the last few years. Because of the heavy rainfall, winemakers had to work hard to prevent disease, but those who were able to stop them in their tracks were left with plump, balanced grapes. Acidity and pH will be normal, and the prospects are good for most grapes. About 3.1 million hectoliters will be made.

ROMANO D’AMARIO of IL FEUDUCCIO

The 2018 season was very rainy in May and June with temperatures much lower than average. The average temperatures in July were not excessive and nights were cool. There were many storms in early August followed by a dry period that extended through harvest. Thanks to day/night temperature swings, our whites will be fresh, though not aggressively fresh, with balanced alcohol. Our red varieties benefited from the dry period during the last phase of maturation and have good phenolic properties, balanced acidity, thanks to the low malic acid levels, and average sugar levels, which will lead to balanced alcohol levels. The wines will be particularly rich in anthocyanins as well as tannins, but not aggressive ones. We expect perfumed, round wines with medium-high to high extract.

Spring started late with lots of precipitation and low average temperatures. This slowed down budbreak. However, the heat arrived in April, reversing the delay, even speeding up the cycle. May saw copious rains causing blossom drop during the flowering period, which negatively affected production. Rains continued through June, which led to some problems with Peronospora. The season was still promising also thanks to the diurnal temperature variations, which helped with excellent phenological maturation of red grapes and the conservation of good acidity profiles for white grapes. August saw some violent storms that damaged vineyards.

PETER HEILBRON of TENUTA BELLAFONTE

In comparison to 2017, this season was less dry with spring rains that made things more difficult from a phytosanitary point of view, but helped the plants develop well. The hot summer was also interrupted by rain and a sunny fall with cool nights allowed for perfect grape ripening. And in fact, the grapes were balanced and healthy by the time harvest rolled around. Thus, it’s an excellent harvest with just the right quantity and excellent quality.

Winter precipitation guaranteed excellent water reserves in the area and March was also quite wet thanks to depressions from the Atlantic. April was warm and dry, but May was rainy. June was hot – one of the hottest – and humid. Cool rains came in July, but, overall, the weather was variable throughout the season. Production should be just under one million hectoliters.