Italy 2006: ISMEA and UIV Foresee an Abundant and High Quality Harvest
Staff Writer - July 25, 2006

ISMEA (Istituto di Servizi per il Mercato Agricolo e Alimentare, or Service Institute for the Agriculture and Food Markets) and UIV (Unione Italiana Vini, or Italian Wine Union) foresee 6% volume increase over the previous year. The quality, too, is expected to be superior, as the dry weather conditions have reduced the danger for vine pathologies.

The two organizations expect the 2006 harvest to produce up to 53 million hectoliters (around 1,400 million gallons) of wine, or a 6% increase compared to the 50.6 million hectoliters (around 1,336 million gallons)s produced in 2005. Such a result will bring up production to the 2004 harvest level. The data are the result of a first field overview of Italian vineyards conducted in July. The quality as well is expected to be excellent in 2006, thanks to the hot, dry weather which, so far, has inhibited possible vine pathology. Fortunately, too, the sparse hail storms of June do not appear to have had any negative effects.

"This year the harvest is the result of a particularly favorable climate", declared the technicians of the ISMEA and UIV. "Generally speaking, the winter and spring weather conditions have resulted in exuberant vegetative development throughout the whole peninsula, though in certain areas the extended cold season retarded blooming for a few days. Currently that delay appears to have been almost completely caught up with, thanks to the extreme hot, sunny weather experienced at the end of June."

"Despite the extended dry period of the last few weeks," continued ISMEA and UIV, "the vines are currently not showing noticeable problems related to lack of water. The rainfall of the previous months provided a substantial water reserve to the soil. Vintners are however on alert, because an extended dry period between now and harvest time could damage production, even if emergency watering is adopted, whenever possible."

The situation by region

• Piedmont
  Piedmont presents a fairly diversified picture. The abundant production expected in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, is leveled by a digression in the Cuneo wine zone, especially with regards to the Nebbiolo grapes. There is widespread concern about the lack of rain, as the June rainfall did not provide enough water locally.
• Lombardy
  Though blooming arrived with a delay of four / five days in Lombardy, the growing process has now caught up completely. A fair increase of product is expected in Valtellina. An outbrake of oidio (Latin name, Uncinula Necator) was isolated and immediately suppressed. The local vintners are also worried that extended lack of rain may negatively affect production, though in this case the June rainfall provided enough water to defeat localized draught.
• Veneto
  There is no significant concern at this time about the lack of water in Veneto, though some experts say that the rainfall so far has been less than during the torrid, dry 2003 season. The next few weeks will be decisive here. Blooming and fruit production has been excellent so far, undisturbed by the climate and with total lack of any kind of illness. harvest time is expected to be on time with high quality grapes.
• Friuli - Venezia Giulia
  In Friuli - Venezia Giulia blooming has been excellent despite some delay in the vegetative development caused by extended cold weather which lasted until the beginning of June. The health of the vineyard is excellent, though there are some concerns about the lack of rain.
• Trentino - Alto Adige
  In this region the vineyards are a few days ahead in fruit development, however blooming was excellent everywhere, including valleys, hills and up mountain. The quality is expected to be excellent, with increase in volume higher in the Alto Adige area and, to a more limited degree, in Trentino.
• Emilia - Romagna
  In Emilia - Romagna the blooming process was excellent and the progression is in line with the season, though here, too, there are some concerns about the possible lack of water.
• Tuscany
  Despite the interrupted blooming experienced in Tuscany because of the cold wave at the end of May and beginning of June, the following fruit transition was great. In the Siena area light cases of peronospora have called for extra bunch pruning.
• Umbria
  Blooming and fruit formation are above average in Umbria. The vineyards show generally good health and there are no concerns about the climate.
• Latium
  A similar situation exists in Latium as well, though sparse July storms brought about some damage that is still being evaluated. Blooming was slightly delayed, but June's heat has almost brought the development up to speed. Fewer than usual interventions against parasites have been called for so far.
• Marche
  The quantity of the product is expected to be good, while the quality will be uneven because blooming did not occur uniform across the region. Sparse peronospora insurgence early in the season did not help either.
• Abruzzo
  Abruzzo situation is aligned with the season, though the unexpected cold spring weather generated some difficulties during the blooming stage. In some vineyards grape pruning has been applied to improve the quality of the fruit.
• Campania
  The state of the vineyards in Campania is fairly good and the harvest is expected to be fairly positive.
• Apulia
  The state of the local vineyards is considered lush, with excellent blooming and fruit formation. The abundant winter and spring rainfall provided the needed water reserves for the superior development and growth of the vines. There were some outbreaks of peronospora in the Salento area.
• Sicily
  The island situation is considered good so far, though there has been growing concern for recent heat spikes, which could affect the acidity of white grapes and compromise their quality. There were also a few peronospora cases and some oidio development, brought on by the winter rains.
• Sardinia
  In Sardinia as well there has been widespread concern for the lack of rain. So far though, the vineyards have been found to be in excellent health and the season is expected to be fairly good.

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