Above: picking dates came about two weeks later than they did in 2022 according to WineNews.it. “Harvest has finally begun,” wrote the Stanig winery (Friuli) on its social media today. “The challenges of climate uncertainty in recent months have made us focus even more of our energy and attention on the work that needs to be done.” Image via the Stanig Facebook.
In a series of posts this week, one of the leading Italian-language resources for wine industry news, WineNews.it, reports that central and some parts of southern Italy will experience a drop of 20-40 percent in production owed to widespread outbreaks of peronospora (downy mildew), severe hail events, and a prolonged heat wave with record temperatures.
In the north, there will be a slight drop in production: -2 percent in Piedmont and -4.5 percent in Emilia-Romagna. In Veneto there will be an increase of 5 percent and in Lombardy 15 percent.
But as you head south, the numbers start to drop: -20 percent in Tuscany and Latium; -25 percent in the Marches; -30 percent in Sicily and Puglia; and -40 percent in Abruzzo.
In Tuscany, Chianti Classico has been severely impacted, the authors of the posts report. According to the presidents of the Chianti and Chianti Classico consortia, there will be areas with significant drops (up to 40 percent) while others will experience a much smaller decrease, if any.
Earlier this year, the Brunello consortium predicted a 5 percent drop. But its president hasn’t spoken publicly about the crop forecast since late July. Some observers believe this estimate to be overly optimistic.
Even with widespread issues and challenges caused by climate change, including record high temperatures this summer, Italy should see just a 12 percent drop in its overall production.
Do Bianchi 