The harvest of the white varieties, which began on 22 August with Chardonnay and continued with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, has now been completed.
The harvest of these grapes, which due to the high temperatures was only carried out in the morning from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., was of good quality, with a decrease in the quantity produced of around 25% compared to 2011, a decrease that was mainly due to the drought and the heat of the summer months.
This week we started with the more precocious red varieties (Syrah & Merlot), and from the first grapes harvested we can already assume, even in this case, a drop in quantity while maintaining good quality.
For Sangiovese, the harvest is just a few days away. The climatic trend of the last few weeks is proving to be extremely important for a good polyphenolic ripening, thanks above all to the excellent day/night temperature range and the light rainfall, which have re-established the balance, creating the best conditions for the most important phase of Sangiovese ripening.
