Leaving behind a complicated 2020, the Consortium looks with optimism to the new harvest, also strengthened by the positive trend of the first six months of the year which showed a substantial increase in bottling, equal to 8%, for a total of over 50 millions of bottles produced. To this, we must add the positive export data, with Sicilian whites who, in the first quarter of the year, even recorded a 45% export compared to 2020, while the reds stood at 10%.
The big picture
Precipitation was concentrated mainly in winter, particularly in February and March, which was followed by a rather dry spring, without unfavorable weather events such as particularly strong sirocco winds and frost. The flowering and fruit set phases took place in the best possible way, thanks to the temperatures in line with the average of recent years: the heat spike recorded at the end of June was offset by the temperature drops in July which ensured normal performance. vegetative cycle of the plant. According to the Consortium's forecasts, the 2021 harvest promises to be more generous than in 2020, with a 10-15% higher harvest. The harvest begins in these first days of August and will follow the ripening periods of the different vines in the various territories.
Filippo Paladino, vice president of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Doc Sicilia: "For ripening and harvesting we are on average with last season. The first grapes to be harvested are those of Pinot Grigio, followed by Chardonnay especially in the area of the plateau for continue with the hill. After the first ten days of August we plan to harvest Moscato and Sauvignon blanc and after the middle of the month we will continue with the autochthonous ones: Grillo, Zibibbo, Insolia and Grecanico. mid-August with the international Merlot and Syrah and then continue with Nero d'Avola, Perricone and Cabernet ".
Lorenza Scianna, technical consultant of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Doc Sicilia: "Winter 2021 started dry and less cold than the previous one. This allowed pruning operations to be carried out without interruptions and in the optimal times for the plant. However, already in mid-February the rains were abundant and frequent, with an unexpected continuation until late spring. The presence of water in the soil gave an important boost to the vegetative recovery of the plant, which in fact appeared already from the first phenological phases in health The possible onset of fungal diseases has been overcome thanks to other climatic conditions: medium-low temperatures in the early stages of rain and wind, in addition to the good practices implemented by the winemakers. The phytosanitary situation of the vineyards today is very good. some areas have had hail phenomena, in most cases in phases in which the plant has had time to emit still shoots and bunches. However, the climatic situation has already reserved an anomalous heat since June, which lasted for about a month ".
Giuseppe Bursi, president of Cantine Settesoli and vice president of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Doc Sicilia: "The conditions for an excellent vintage are certainly there. The grapes are of good quality and the climatic trend in the past months has been favorable for the harvest 2021 is more than positive. I am confident, also because the Cantina Settesoli observatory is large and includes 2,000 winemaking members gathered in a cooperative, in Menfi and in the provinces of Agrigento, Trapani and Palermo, for a total of 9 municipalities involved and over 30 different cultivars on almost 6,000 hectares of vines, which represent 7% of the island's vineyard. This allows us to have full awareness of the oenological production that falls within this vast territory. The Pinot Grigio harvest has already begun at the end of July , which will be followed by the Chardonnay starting from August 10. The harvest of all the other grapes will then begin in mid-August and the harvest will thus begin, until about in the middle of September. We are ready and confident ".
Salvatore Chiantia, president of Cantine La Vite: "An excellent year of 2021 awaits us and our forecasts in this sense are more than good. Cantine La Vite counts on 2,000 winemakers, who cultivate 3,000 hectares in the territories of the Center and South. Sicily, in more than 10 municipalities between the provinces of Caltanissetta and Agrigento. It is an extensive territory, which may well represent a good part of Sicilian wine production, from which very positive indicators arrive in view of the harvest. climate was good, with the exception of a peak of heat in June, which however will not affect the quality of the wine, which promises to be of a high standard. September, as production is mainly oriented on the black grape variety (over 80% of the total): today Cantine La Vite is the largest producer of Nero d'Avola in Sicily. in Margherita di Belice and Sciacca the harvest begins this week, with Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay and, subsequently, with the other autochthonous white berried grapes. The prospects are definitely good and we are looking forward to an excellent year of 2021 ".
