Bad weather may hurt Piedmont wine harvest
Published on the 03-07-2008
Severe weather this spring may have irreversibly damaged vineyards in the northwest region of Piedmont and producers fear their harvest will be half what it was last year.
According to experts from the Coldiretti farmers' union, who examined over 18,000 hectares of vines in the province of Asti, a hot and sunny summer may be able to reduce the drop in production to 30%.
''It will be touch-and-go straight through the harvest. Another big rain storm like the ones in May could spoil the whole harvest,'' observed Maurizio Soave, the Coldiretti president in Asti.
''The best we can hope for now is for a good harvest in terms of quality, which will allow us to make a premier product,'' he added.
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Piedmont WIne Harvest 2008
Interestingly Mauritzio Soave is my neighbour - in wine growing terms, so I am very pleased to see him quoted on Italy Mag, I will tell him he has made fame on the internet.
It is true - especially for the red grapes, which were all at a very delecate stage when the storms arrived (and stayed for 20 plus days). The white grapes fared a little better as they were more advanced - so Moscado d'Asti DOCG is looking great this year. Nothing is clear till it's in the vat thought!