The explanation for this postponement is very simple: the low temperatures of last spring delayed the various vegetational phases of the vine and this, in cascade, will also affect the start of the harvest, which for the early varieties will begin between the end of August and the beginning of September.
In the meantime, the regional team of the Vitivinicolo Triptych , led by Veneto Agricoltura, promoter of the "historic" event, the only one of its kind in Italy, has started the engines and started the countdown for what promises to be a very interesting year. Therefore, on Tuesday 31 August, the 2021 harvest will be placed under the magnifying glass of the regional, national and international experts involved in the event. On the occasion, the first qualitative and quantitative production indications of the upcoming harvest in Veneto, in the remaining north-east, in the main Italian wine regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily), as well as in France and Spain. In the meantime, let's see how things are going in our region.
Bardolino-Custoza
In the Garda hinterland, land of numerous denominations known all over the world, including Bardolino and Custoza, the 2021 weather trend recorded temperatures below the seasonal average. This led to a general delay in the start of the vegetative phase of the vine of 4-6 days compared to 2020, which today has reached 12-15 days. At present the veraison phase (the taking of color of the grapes) is now affecting all the varieties. The first part of the summer was also characterized by numerous thunderstorms, accompanied by some hailstorms which however heavily affected only some patchy areas. "Downy mildew and powdery mildew did not create big problems this year - remembers Alessio Giacopini , technician of the Protection Consortium - but the same cannot be said for the moth (moth that feeds on grapes) of first and second generation on a variety compact cluster such as for example Chardonnay. This has subsequently caused some problems of botrytis (gray mold) accentuated by the continuous precipitation. To date there are no major problems of yellowing of the vine, in particular golden flavescence and black wood (vine fungi), which, however, showed up in an important way on sensitive varieties. A major problem that is worrying the winemakers at the moment is instead that of esca disease (another type of mushroom) which is heavily affecting the Corvina variety ".
Valpolicella-Negrar
In the Amarone and Ripasso area, great wines of Valpolicella, the growing season began with a delay of 7-10 days compared to the last few years due, as mentioned, to the low temperatures at the beginning of the season. A delay that continued even afterwards due to a particularly cool and rainy month of May. Consequently, the flowering of the vine was postponed by 10 days (in practice, from the last decade of May it passed to the first of June) precisely due to the delay in vegetative development. "The vines - underlines Claudio Oliboni , technician of the Valpolicella-Negrar Winery - have not undergone particular water stress this year or even phytosanitary attacks of particular importance. The vines are therefore overall healthy and in good vegetative-productive balance. last year the vineyards had a 10-15% lower load of grapes and at the moment there are all the conditions for an excellent harvest ".
Lower Vicenza and the Berica area
To date, the situation of the vineyards in the Vicenza area is more than satisfactory. Fortunately, the area has not been affected up to now by particular hail phenomena and the rainfall of the last few weeks has favored a good vegetative activity; consequently the screws are in an optimal productive state. "The health of the grapes is also excellent - highlights Mirko Trevisi of the Collis Group - given that there are no botrytic attacks, while the infections, even virulent, of downy mildew which occurred at the beginning of June were effectively fought by the winemakers with normal defense. early grapes, at this time in full veraison, the harvest is expected to start in the last week of August; for the Glera variety in mid-September; while for the Merlot, which at this moment has reached 50% of veraison, around September 20. "
Euganean Hills
At the moment the situation in the vineyards of the Paduan hills is good and does not raise particular concerns. The production is balanced and not excessive. "With regard to fungal diseases - underlines Andrea Gianesini of the Consorzio di Tutela - we note the presence of mosaic downy mildew on the females and some cases of larvae on the clusters; powdery mildew is under control for now as well as botrytis. some cases of black rot (black rot of the berries) have been detected. As regards the insects of the vine, the situation is currently normal; in fact, the flights of the third generation of the moth have begun. The early varieties, such as Pinot, Chardonnay, Moscato Bianco and some Merlots are in the phenological stage of veraison, an overall delay of 5-6 days is estimated compared to last year.
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
During 2021, the vegetational delay was estimated at 10-12 days compared to the previous five years, a delay that is also being maintained in the current phenological phase. "The start of the veraison - recalls Roberto Merlo , technician of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG Consortium - has, as usual, affected the territory of the Conegliano area more than the Valdobbiadene area. to sanction the delay in the beginning of the harvest which in the Conegliano area should be in mid-September while in the Valdobbiadene area it should be at the end of September and beginning of October ".
Eastern Veneto
Finally, as regards the area of Eastern Veneto, which involves the Denominations protected by the Consorzio Vini Venezia (Venezia Doc, Piave Doc, Lison-Pramaggiore Doc, Malanotte Docg and Lison Docg), a year of high quality is announced, even if more scarce in terms of quantity than in previous years. "The phytosanitary trend and a climate so far favorable - explains Stefano Quaggio , director of the Consortium - give hope. It is important to remember that the phytosanitary interventions have been limited thanks to the regular climatic trend of the last few months". The yield estimates of the early varieties, which represent the types most present within the territory protected by the Consortium, are decreasing, including the Pinot Grigio variety.
