The 2022 harvest in Italy kicks off at least seven days earlier than last year with drought and heat over 40 degrees that cut production by 10% nationwide with vineyards put to the test even by hot nights and always very high minimum temperatures that did not allow the grapes to take a bit of climate "breath" with the traditional temperature change.
This is what emerges from Coldiretti's analysis on the occasion of the start of the harvest in Italy with the detachment of the first bunch in the Faccoli farm, in Coccaglio, in the Franciacorta of Brescia in Lombardy.
"Italian production this year - underlines Coldiretti - is estimated to be down by 10% at national level for a quantity of around 45.5 million hectoliters but a lot will depend both on the evolution of temperatures that affect ripening and on the absence of storms and hailstorms that have a devastating impact on the vineyards and on the quantities produced. In Italy, however, a good / excellent quality vintage is expected, even if the trend of the harvest will be greatly influenced by the rest of August and September. confirm the forecasts also on a quantitative level ".
Despite the decline at a national level, Italy, states Coldiretti, "is the first world producer of wine while for the second place a challenge is expected between France and Spain, countries that have both suffered damage caused by drought and fires".
From north to south of the Peninsula, the harvest traditionally starts with the Pinot and Chardonnay sparkling wine grapes in a path that, the association specifies, continues in September and October with Glera for Prosecco and with the great native red grapes Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo and even ends in November with Aglianico and Nerello grapes on 658 thousand hectares cultivated nationally.
