Grape harvest, fewer bottles, but of quality
Oenologists and operators agree: «Il will be a historical year».
Expectancy for Prosecco harvest
Started deliveries of grapes to the wine cellars of Sinistra Piave: excellent the "early wines" , good the alcoholic strenght
A year of quality, that probably will end with some bottles missing, but of wine to cellar. This is the air you breathe in the cellars of Conegliano area, where on the last weeks have started the deliveries of grapes. >From the end of August early wines, Pinot grigio and bianco, Chardonnay, Incrocio Manzoni, Sauvignon and Tocai. On these days starts the tranche of Prosecco, within about two weeks Verduzzo and around 20th October Raboso.
«Grapes of very good quality – do let know from Conegliano cellar – sound and nice, red wines of excellent vintage with homogeneous black grapes. Nice Prosecco also; premises are good».
In Vazzola also the atmosphere is pleasant,: «Grape harvest is going well – explain from the cellar – quantity and alcoholic strenght also is good. On the last weeks we started with the early wines, starting from tomorrow with Merlot, this week with Prosecco R.D.O. and then onwards with Verduzzo and Raboso».
In Codognè there is expectancy for Prosecco: «Grape harvest is dragging on, the weather is fine, therefore they are waiting to pick up graves. Alcoholic strength is fairly good, at a first estimate we will reach the same levels of the past year». The balance is expected to be good also for tenant farmers’ pockets, who bring the bunches of grapes to wine growers’ cooperatives, with grapes paid on the base of variety, quality and sugary alcoholic strenght that promise well. «This year early wines are of excellent quality – explains oenologist Vittorio Bellussi, chairman of “Road of Piave wines”, that numbers among its members farms and institutes from Piave area – sugary alcoholic strength is higher than the average of the last years, acidity and production also is good. Now we are waiting for Prosecco, the harvest has started between yesterday and today and premises are good».
That’ s what it is expected: «Fewer grapes as regards to the past years, but a historical year to put away; such sound and perfect grapes have never been seen. Climate and days of dry air have favoured the maturation of grapes with excellent early wines. We will finish maybe with some bottles missing, but of better quality». From the areas hit by the rough hailstorm of the past May graves are not expected for this year: in Godega di Sant’ Urbano it was the Bibano grape-vines that came off worst. The same situation for Santa Lucia and the strip of vineyards of Campolongo in Conegliano. «In these areas the percentage of damage recognized by insurance companies lays between 80 and 100% - do let know the cellars of reference for the areas hit by the hailstorm – grapes from there won’t come this year». Nothing new for the farmers who rushed to check the rows of wines of mixed varieties, including Prosecco, where it seemed winter had come back. When the hailstorm finished, it was immediately clear that damage to the grape-vines would be of such an extent to drive the local governments to appeal to the act of God.
Grape harvest time then, but prizes time also. This year also it has been designated the wine winner of Raboso 2009 selection of Brotherhood of Raboso R.D.O. Piave. It has been Raboso 2003 of Bellussi Agostino e Lamberto farm from Tezze di Piave, that won the selection of Raboso for the prestigious bottle of Brotherhood of Raboso, to gain the match.
Article by Erica Bet for www.Gazzettino.it
Source: Marcadoc