In the past recent years, at least in Italy, it seems the old Italian saying
the seasons of the past are gone forever is quite appropriate to the
meteorological condition of the country. By considering the bizarre springtime
we had this year, it seems we are living in a tropical country instead of
Italy. Let's hope summer will be more clement and may give a more regular and
coherent season. In case it should repeat what happened in springtime, vintners
and farmers will have more than one reason to be concerned of. Rains and storms
have characterized most of springtime, with temperature ranging from cold to
humid heat. By still considering the old wisdom of our Country, it seems we can
certainly say springtime and autumn are not what they used to be.
Meteorologists said that, by considering the quantity of water of springtime's
rains, this seems to be normal. The point, however, is the concentration and
the intensity of rains which looked like flooding instead of springtime rains.
Temperature has been as much bizarre as the rain. In particular in April, in
that period in which vines start budding and resume their vegetative activity.
In certain areas of Italy - as well as in some parts of Europe - there have
been frosts which damaged vineyards. In Burgundy and Loire, in particular, last
April's frost has literally burnt buds of vines which were about to become
grapes. This means that, in the areas affected by this frost, it will be likely
the vegetative activity will delay as plants will have to bear new buds, in
case they are in the proper condition to do so. In these areas, unavoidably,
harvesting will be delayed in order to let the new buds to come to full
ripeness, in case summer and autumn meteorological conditions will be favorable.
Italy too has been affected by the unexpected cold temperature in April and the
regions to have complained the worst damages in vineyards have been Abruzzo and
Molise. In some cases, vintners have declared that, because of the damages in
their vineyards, it is likely that, for them, vintage 2016 will be quite
limited. It is not over, of course. Summer is about to come and, provided
it will not follow the bizarre springtime weather, there is still good hope and
possibility to recover. Every farmer and vintner know one must always look at
the sky. Not for praising a divine intervention, indeed to prevent the effects
of weather. This is of course possible in case of benevolent and
controllable meteorological events, of course not in case of very bad and
devastating events, such as hail and, of course, frosts.
The abundant rains in springtime have forced vintners to properly take measures
against downy mildew and powdery mildew. These two diseases are in fact
particularly active from the second half of springtime to the first part of
summer, when grape bunches start to develop. Prevention measures against
these two diseases consist in applying copper sulfate for downy mildew and
sulfur for powdery mildew. The use of these two substances is by many
considered as traditional - therefore acceptable - while noticing there
also are other remedies considered by others less harmful for the environment.
We should in fact consider despite copper sulfate is an effective remedy
against downy mildew, it is however a heavy metal and when applied to a
vineyard it is absorbed by the soil as well.
Rain, fog and wide temperature changes are the cause of humidity and therefore
mold. To tell the truth, it is too early to be concerned about mold, however it
can be something to cause problems when bunches are fully developed and are
about to get to full ripeness. In case summer would be bizarre like springtime,
mold will unavoidably be a serious risk for harvesting, in particular in
September. It should be noticed the presence of mold, when it gets developed in
particular conditions, is always welcome in vineyards of those producers who
make the so called botrytized wines, while it is a curse for the rest. It
should also be noticed not all grapes are affected the same by the mold, as in
those having a thick skin the effects are vain and negligible. The same cannot
be said for those varieties having a thin skin, such as the many grapes
belonging to the numerous family of Malvasie, widely found in Italy.
We only need to be confident about summer to be coherent with its nature
because we have already seen rains and cold temperatures quite a lot in this
springtime. Vines certainly have huge water reserve in the deep from which
roots can benefit from. This means - in case summer will be sultry and dry -
roots can take water from the deep of soil. The abundant springtime rains, as
well as low temperatures, will certainly play a role in the vegetative cycle of
vines and would determine a delay in ripeness of grapes and therefore
harvesting. We need to hope for a regular summer and not so bizarre like
springtime while wishing 2016 may give us excellent wines. My thoughts, I admit
it, are with all the vintners who, understandably, this summer will continue
looking at the sky, wishing themselves to harvest extraordinary grapes and then
to give us, once again, amazing emotions with their wines.
Antonello Biancalana
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