2007 ITALIAN GRAPE HARVEST: ONE OF THE SCARCEST AND EARLIEST OF THE PAST 50 YEARS... THE FIRST “OFFICIAL” PREDICTIONS BY ENOLOGISTS - 43.2 MILLION HECTOLITERS OF WINE (-13% FROM 2006), QUALITY HETEROGENEOUS. PRICE OF GRAPES INCREASES

The Minister of Agriculture, Paolo De Castro and the General Manager of Enologi Italiani, Giuseppe Martelli claim this may be one of the scarcest grape harvests of the past 50 years (only in 1950 and 1957 were quantity results less than predicted). In fact, there could be a production total of only 43,200,000 hectoliters. That is a 13% decrease compared to 2006, which registered 49,631,000 hectoliters.

This was the data in a recent communication from Assoenologi, the national organization of actively involved wine sector technicians (of whom over 40% with managerial jobs in both private and cooperative organizations), who will also be releasing the “final balance” of the 2007 harvest in October. But this harvest will also be remembered as one of the earliest of the past 70 years: the harvest operations, in some zones, began during the first 10 days of August, ahead of schedule from 10 to 20 days. The decrease in production is more severe in southern Italy and especially in Sicily where, in certain zones, there is 50% less compared to 2006 (a harvest this low hasn’t been registered since 1957 when only 43 million hectoliters were produced and in 1950 with only 41 million hectoliters).

And the quality? “The climactic cycle” – explained Italian Enologist’s head, Giuseppe Martelli – “which characterizes the entire vegetative cycle, has created, amidst highs and lows, a heterogeneous quality that, over all, is interesting for early varieties (which have already all been harvested); for other varieties, the forecasts are very good with many excellent points, obviously if the course of the next few weeks does not betray expectations. In all, the 2006-2007 winter was one of the mildest and least rainy over the past 10 years, the month of April the hottest of the past 50 years, while that of July, especially in the South, the hottest of the past 5 years, August registered torrid heat in the South, and average in the North, with a bit of precipitation that was beneficial to grapevines.”

According to Assoenologi, the market forecasts may be looking up: “The contraction of grapes and wine at retail are characterized by”- continued to explain Martelli – “general increases in prices, with major points of interest for wines particularly in demand by the market. On average, they are registering an increase of between 5 and 20% in the North, Center, and South, with head spinning numbers for some products like Prosecco, which is registering peaks of even 100% on quotations compared to the same period last year.
For Moscato and Pinot Grigio of the Oltrepò Pavese, a 25% increase compared to 2006 has been registered. In the Veneto, there are increases of between 10 and 30% according to grape varieties. In the Marche, Lazio and Puglia, the average price increase is over 10%...
The time frame of the 2007 grape harvest can be summed up like this: the harvest of early varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot, Sauvignon) began in August (in Sicily, the first few days, in Lombardy on August 6, and in Tuscany on the 19th). But most of the harvest in the Center-North will take place in first half of September and the conferring of the majority of grapes will be done by the end of September.
Officially, the harvest will end by October, with the picking of the Nerello Mascalese (the grapes that are cultivated on the slopes of Etna) and Nebbiolo grapes in Valtellina by October 15th, and the Aglianico grapes by the last week.



The Numbers for the 2007 Harvest – Assoenologi Forecasts, Region by Region

Region/+-% compared to 2006/average hectoliters of wine for 2007

Piedmont / -10%/ 2,910,000

Lombardy / -10%/ 980,000

Trentino A.A. / =/ 1,160,000

Veneto / -5%/ 6,850,000

Friuli V.G./ +10%/ 1,120,000

Emilia Romagna / -5%/ 6,430,000

Tuscany / -10%/ 2,680,000

Marche / -15%/ 930,000

Lazio / -10%/ 2,090,000

Abruzzo / -20%/ 2,590,000

Campania / -10%/ 1,820,000

Puglia / -20%/ 5,920,000

Sicily / -30%/ 4,890,000

Sardinia / =/ 860,000

Others** / -15%/ 1,970,000

Total / -13%/ 43,200,000

Source: Associazione Enologi Enotecnici Italiani

* The production averages have been indicated, rounded off, and a hypothesis made for each region

** Valle d'Aosta, Liguria, Umbria, Molise, Basilicata, Calabria

Past Harvests – Production Averages Divided by Time Periods

Average Production 1987/1996 – 61,727,000 hectoliters

Average Production 1987/2006 – 56,573,000 hectoliters

Average Production 1997/2006 – 51,418,000 hectoliters

Average Production 2000/2006 – 49,772,000 hectoliters

Average Production 2002/2006 – 48,404,000 hectoliters

Average Production 2004/2006 – 51,111,000 hectoliters

Source: Associazione Enologi Italiani with data from Istat

The Curiosity – Best Vintages for Italian Reds Since the 1040’s…

1947, 1964, 1971, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997

Source: Associazione Enologi Italiani