2006 “A GOOD HARVEST, THOUGH LESS THAN 2005”: ITALIAN PRODUCER MAKE PREDICTIONS FOR WINENEWS, WHICH HAS GATHERED, REGION BY REGION, THE OPINIONS OF SOME OF ITALY’S TOP ENOLOGISTS

“It will be a harvest with good qualitative potential, though the quantity will be slightly less in respect to that of 2005”: this is the general confirmation made by Italian producers when they were asked by www.winenews.it, one of the most popular web sites in Italy for wine enthusiasts.
Winenews interviewed over 30 of the most important Italian wine producers, revealing increased expectations for the 2006 harvest, with hopes for very high quality if the weather conditions in September continue to remain stable. With a large margin of certainty, it is possible to now confirm at least two points: the 2006 harvest will register a slightly lower quantity, though by just a few percentage points, compared to the previous year’s harvest. But, quality, on the other hand, particularly for the more precocious varieties, will be very good, better than the 2005 harvest, which was, in the end, nicknamed the harvest of “hopes let down”.
It is still difficult, however, to make confirmations about late harvest grapes. From a winter that was very generous with rain throughout the country, to a cool spring that delayed the germination of plants, to an incredibly hot June, that provoked fears of yet another “tropical” harvest like that of 2003, and which partially blocked normal vegetative developments in many southern regions as well as in areas of Tuscany, that was then followed by a cool, even cold August, which subsequently provoked fears of another 2002 harvest, have all led up to a September that has been perfect weather-wise. And the notable nocturnal temperature variations - superior to those of 2005 - should ensure aromatic complexity and a grand elegance in this year’s wines.

The Winemaker’s Comments, Region by Region
Trentino Alto Adige
According to Fausto Peratoner, director of La Vis, one of the most important wineries in the Trentino, “ We are confronted by a beautiful harvest. We began with the base grapes for Spumante, excellent, and we are now harvesting the white grapes for still wines. The great temperature range has favored a gradual maturation, which, in terms of alcohol gradation, is superior to that of 2005. It is evidently suspended, judgment on red grapes. Quantities should be 5-10% more than the last harvest”.
Veneto
For Orazio Franchi, enologist at the Paladin-Bosco del Merlo winery, “we can formulate positive predictions for the 2006 harvest. The grapes are stupendous, with great alcoholic gradation, that remind me of 1997. We have already harvested the white grapes with beautiful acidity and intense aromas. The overall picture for red grapes is very good and we will begin their harvest in about a week”. And at the Zonin winery, as well ( which includes 1800 hectares of vineyards, covering some of the best zones in Italy), there is optimism. Zonin’s enologist, Franco Giacosa, noted, “The Garganega is very beautiful, but it is still early to make definitive judgments, however, it will surely be a truly extraordinary year if the weather continues to help us. Production is on average with other harvests”. For Gianni Bisol, general manager at Bisol, “the climactic conditions are optimal and the quality of the grapes is very good, the quantity has fallen slightly, in the order of 3-4% less than the 2005 harvest. The real harvest will begin soon, but the large temperature changes have already prepared a Prosecco with great aromatic richness”. Alessandro Alì, marketing director of the Santa Margherita Group (which includes names like Kettmeir, Cantine Torresella, Ca' del Bosco, Lamole di Lamole, Fattoria Vistarenni, Feudo Zirtari and Terrelíade) explained, “We are very confident, although, until all of the grapes are in the wine cellars, we can’t say whether it has been a good harvest. But jokes aside, the grapes are very beautiful and they allow us to predict a very good year quality-wise”.
Friuli Venezia
Giulia Gianni Venica, owner of the winery with the same name, noted, “for now the prospects are very good, climactic conditions are ideal, with hot days and cool nights, and very healthy grapes. The heat, and above-all, the light during these splendid September days could give the decisive refinement for a year that could be special”. Elda Felluga of the Livio Felluga winery agrees: “If it continues like this, it should be a great harvest, but I don’t want to say anything else, let’s cross our fingers. Quantities are inferior to those of the last two harvests”. Lombardy Matteo Vezzola, enologist at Bellavista, noted, “We did not expect a harvest this beautiful, and I feel I can say that the grapes we have taken to the cellars are between optimum and excellent, absolutely healthy and very equilibrated, with a slight decrease in quantity in respect to 2005, by about 5%”.
Piedmont
Michele Chiarlo, owner of the winery of the same name, and one of the points of reference for Piedmont wines, responded, “It is a year in which, for now, I don’t see any negativity, we have already begun to harvest the early white grapes with exceptional results, grapes with great equilibrium and a slightly increased quantity in respect to 2005. These days, we are harvesting Moscato with an optimum aromatic quality, and Cortese, with the same optimum results. If it continues like this, it will be a very beautiful harvest, even for Nebbiolo and Barbera”.
Tuscany
According to Renzo Cotarella, enologist and managing director of Antinori, “the state of health of the grapes is very good and a slight delay for the harvest is expected. If the meteorological conditions remain stable, we should have a result similar to that of the 2005 harvest, but with a quality that is tendentially superior”. For Stefano Campatelli, director of the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium, “at this time, the meteorological conditions are very good and promise a beautiful harvest. The grapes are healthy, rather abundant, and it is predicted that the Sangiovese will be harvested around the 20th of September”. Rudy Buracchi, enologist at Castello Banfi, stated, “We have already finished harvesting the white grapes, with exceptional results. The current weather conditions are optimal and, knock on wood, even the red grapes should give stunning results”. Jacopo Bondi Santi, one of the most important names in Tuscan winemaking, is also optimistic: “Of course, in regards to the Sangiovese, the premises are optimum, we only need to wait. I believe it will be a beautiful harvest”. For Massimo Romeo, president of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Consortium, he noted, “For now, we can speak of a “continental” year, that is, one that has not been exaggeratedly hot. The harvest won’t begin until the last days of September. Currently, the quality of the grapes seems to be very interesting, but it is still a bit early to pass final judgment”. For Guido Sodano, general manager of the Fattoria del Cerro, “An excellent year is expected, even though the course of the upcoming days in September will be decisive”. Even forecasts for Chianti Classico are very good this year. Andrea Cecchi, co-owner with his brother of the Cecchi winery, stated he was, “more optimistic than usual, because the 2006 harvest could be truly great”. Even Sergio Zingarelli, president of Rocca delle Macie, is optimistic, “At this moment, the situation is splendid, the grapes are beautiful and are in great health. We have just begun with the precocious varieties in Maremma and the grapes are truly good. If the weather holds, it could be a harvest that’s over the top”. Francesco Mazzei, co-owner with his brother Filippo of the Castello di Fonterutoli, stated similarly that, “Things are going very well, and I am very optimistic it could be a very good, if not excellent, harvest. We have just begun harvesting in Chianti Classico, where we have come across a small quantitative decrease, while in the Maremma, which is a bit further along, we have had excellent results”. For Lamberto Frescobaldi, director of production for the family’s company, “The premises are excellent, these sunny and cool days are perfect. For the 2006 harvest, we can’t be anything but optimistic. The grapes appear to be of perfect quality, and the rains in August guaranteed the right amount of water in the vineyards”. In Bolgheri, Leonardo Raspini of the Ornellaia Estate, confirmed, “We expect a lot from this harvest. The grapes are very beautiful, they have a great aromatic and polyphenol concentration, and quantitatively there is about 5% less in respect to 2005. We have begun with Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the younger vineyards, while the good weather these days is bringing along the moment to harvest the later grapes”.
Marche
For Michele Bernetti, owner of Umani Ronchi, “August had us a little worried, but such a beautiful September has accelerated the maturation of both the Verdicchio and the Rosso Conero. We are average for quantity, but, above-average in regards to the quality of the grapes, which, thanks to the notable temperature variations, have developed a great perfume and incisive acidity levels”.
Umbria
Marco Caprai, owner of the Caprai winery, and who has made Sagrantino a world-renowned wine, explained: “It should be a good harvest, the grape maturation is developing well and I feely fairly optimistic for the final results” Even Chiara Lungarotti, at the head of the historic Torigano winery, appeared optimistic. “If the weather stays as it is, it could be an extraordinary harvest. Hot during the day and cool at night, ideal for a perfect grape maturation, which are slightly behind”.
Puglia
Nicola Leone de Castris, owner of the winery of the same name, explained: “We have just begun the harvesting of whites and this week we will begin with the Primitivo, and I am certainly optimistic. It seems that the 2006 harvest is very interesting, but we need to wait until the end of September and the beginning of October to be able to express a complete opinion. The grapes are healthy and possess an alcoholic gradation and aromatic array superior to that of the 2005 grapes”.
Sicily
Diego Cusumano, co-owner with brother Alberto of the Partitico winery, declared, “I am very happy, the grapes are very healthy and we have already begun a harvest of the precocious grapes with great results, and we will soon conclude the harvesting of the Nero d’Avola. Quantity decidedly less, at least for us, by about 20%”. Even from Menfi, the kingdom of Planeta, a certain optimism is present, with Alessio Planeta noting, “We have harvested the Chardonnay, Merlot and Fiano (this last one truly beautiful) with excellent results. This harvest could be very good if the weather remains stable. It could be a year for the autochthonous grapes, like the Grecanico and Nero d’Avola varieties, and it is surely more “Mediterranean” than the 2005 harvest”.
Franco Pallini