Report Italy August 2023 – Miravalle 1926
WEATHER – In terms of weather, after the last two weeks of July with temperatures reaching 45°C in the shade in several regions of central/southern Italy, the situation has returned to normal.
However, the north of Italy was repeatedly hit by Atlantic currents, which caused considerable damage, particularly in the north-east, i.e. in Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli. Vineyards also suffered heavy hailstorms, the damage of which is still being assessed.
NEW HARVEST – Currently, nationwide, there is a delay of about 7-10 days compared to last year. Sicily will begin harvesting the early grapes, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, next week.
In terms of quantity, a drop in production of around 10-15% is estimated in Italy, concentrated mainly in Sicily, Puglia and Abruzzo. In these regions, the damage caused by the heat and above all by mildew, could affect new production by up to 20-30%.
DISTILLATION – Italy is also facing this problem, especially for its red wines. It is currently estimated that around 200,000 HL will be distilled in Sicily and around 15,000 in Piedmont (Brachetto d’Acqui).
When we reopen, we’ll be able to be more precise about the other regions that have signed up to these Community measures and the prices that have been set.
MARKET – Despite a poor outlook in terms of production, the market remains calm. Bottlers prefer to make targeted purchases for immediate withdrawals and are not making medium- to long-term purchases. The situation is much better for white wines than for reds.