The “revival harvest”, as Ernesto Abbona, president of the Italian Wines Union describes it, has to deal with the effects of climate change that “burn” 9% of crops. Italy, with 44.5 million hectoliters, remains the first European producer ahead of Spain and France, particularly penalized by the weather conditions. Good, however, and in some cases even excellent quality. According to harvest forecasts by Assoenologi, Ismea and Uiv, the Italian vineyard resists and is in good condition even on the crucial front of the restart, with encouraging signs both from foreign demand (2.7 billion euros and + 11% the export result in the first 5 months of the year) and on the internal market, driven by the reopening of the Horeca and the recovery of tourism. After a 2020/21 campaign with prices down by 3% (Ismea index compared to the previous campaign), the prospect of a lower production for the current harvest, together with the renewed dynamism of demand, also generates optimism on the future trend of price lists.
From the first analyzes, medium-high gradations are highlighted, with some critical issues on the sugar / acidity ratio which will affect the always excellent work of the oenologists and companies in the cellar. To date, around 25% of the grapes have been harvested, with Sicily cutting the ribbon as early as the end of July. Between the end of August and the first week of September, the harvesting operations for the early varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot, Sauvignon) took place in most of the Italian regions, while it is estimated that throughout the territory the full harvest will be this. year postponed to the last ten days of September, to end towards the end of October if not the beginning of November. «Climate change, with a tropicalization of the climate, are increasingly affecting the world of agriculture and therefore of wine – explains Riccardo Cotarella, president of Assoenologi -. It is the task of us oenologists to mitigate the negative effects and enhance the positive ones, with particular attention to environmental protection and sustainability, elements that are now also necessary for adequate recognition by consumers ».
Abbona underlines “our exciting development on international markets”. Signs of strong growth were recorded, in the first half of 2021, in all the main markets, such as the USA (+ 18% value), Canada (+ 13%), Switzerland (+ 19%) and Japan (+ 2%), but we are witnessing strong rebounds also in Russia and China. And Andrea Sartori, president of the Sartori winery, explains: «There is an upward trend in the exchange values of the grapes caused by the decrease in production. The data relating to sales both on the domestic market and on the foreign side is also positive, with demand increasing by 11% in the first 5 months of the year ». What to do then? According to Abbona “it is necessary to continue with determination, team spirit and system logic in the promotion of the” Italian system “which, we have been saying for some time, is more than ever necessary and complementary to the promotion of” brands “, with positive effects on the image of the our country and wine tourism “.