THE ORNELLAIA 2020 HARVEST STARTED

Bolgheri, Tuesday 18 August 2020 - 2020 will undoubtedly be a year that we will remember for a long time but, at least in the vineyard, in Bolgheri, it has given a very balanced and regular trend of the seasons, leading to an excellent harvest.

With the exception of some particularly cold nights in March, in fact, spring was almost perfect: sunny and with some rain at the right time, it guaranteed a correct and homogeneous vegetative development, leading to a slightly early flowering, only by a week. The fruit set was very good and ensured the basis for an excellent production level which today, in August, is fully confirmed.

The summer began with a rainier month than normal, forcing the Ornellaia team to a period of intense work in the vineyard to contain and protect the vegetation in full growth. July, on the other hand, took place with almost no rainfall, slowing down the development of the vines just in time for veraison, which arrived in the last decade of the month.

While the months went by slowly, the organization in the vineyard and in the cellar promptly adapted to the anti-Covid-19 security protocols for the protection of the men and women who work in Ornellaia. “Since April - explains Axel Heinz, estate manager - we have reorganized the cellar where about 20 people work, while in the vineyards the distancing is natural. We have changed the way we work without changing operations and above all without giving up our quality standards. It was a challenge. "

The harvest began about a week early, on 13 August, with the first bunches of Sauvignon Blanc and Viogner and it is expected to start the harvest for the red varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot) among the last days of August and the first week of September.

“The watchword of the first post-Covid-19 harvest is 'resilience with confidence'” continues the Director. "Our commitment is to work as usual, interpreting the vintage in the best possible way and preserving the style and identity of Ornellaia".

The conditions for the 2020 harvest are excellent but, like every year, the conditions in September will decide the final quality of the year. Meanwhile, the collection continues ...