Harvest 2011
down to all-time lows
42,3 million Hl volume (-10% respect to 2010). Should it be confirmed, it would be the third time under the threshold of 43 million since 1957. The record temperatures of the end of August, the last cycle of extirpations with award and the green harvest in Sicily were determinant.
The Italian harvest 2011 will probably be at all-time lows. So is the forecast from the recognition of the vineyards made at the same time by Unione Italiana Vini (the most important association of Italian wine producers) and Ismea in the first week of September. The production is a bit more than 42 million Hl, which is 10% less respect to the 46.7 million Hl registered by national institute of statistics (Istat) in 2010.
Should it be confirmed, Italy would be the second producing Country, after France that has an estimation of about 49 million Hl. (+8%). Not only. It could even sign one of the lowest domestic production levels of the last 50 years: the threshold of 43 million Hl was not passed only twice: in 1957 and in 2007.
At the beginning of summer a light reduction could already be foreseen, which has become more evident by the time, above all because of the hot temperatures. Besides hot weather, the lack of rain and the non-resolutive irrigation aid have caused a water stress to the bunches inducing a maturation in advance than usual and a higher sugar concentration, due to the dehydration of the grapes. Which causes a lower yield in wine respect to last year.
The last harvest was influenced also by the extirpations with award and definitive desertion, which are bringing to structural reduction of the productions.
We just remind you that by the last harvest they accepted demands for extirpations for 9,288 hectares. This amount must be added to the 22,312 hectares of the previous two harvests.
The regions that have most demanded for it are Apulia, Sicily and Emilia Romagna, respectively with quota on inventory-surface equal to 12%, 6% and 5%.
Also the “green harvest” has influenced the reduction in volumes. Above all Sicily this year has congealed almost 13,000 hectares. On the contrary, in the other regions they registered few adherences.
The harvest 2011 will be remembered also because it was much in advance respect to the average. In many area they anticipated of two or three weeks.
And quality? The discussion is open and as usual the situation is different region by region.
However, there are some points of excellence and a raise in alcoholic strength is foreseen.
This year we must be extremely cautious. If it’s true that the bad weather caused the harvest of the early grapes, a providential rain in the next days could improve the situation of the tardy grapes.
Production of wine and must in Italy
(thousands of Hl.)
|
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011* |
Var.% 2011/2012 |
|
Piedmont |
2,858 |
2,996 |
2,850 |
-5% |
|
Valle d’Aosta |
22 |
22 |
24 |
12% |
|
Lombardy |
1,277 |
1,349 |
1,280 |
-5% |
|
Trentino Alto Adige |
1,254 |
1,161 |
1,060 |
-9% |
|
Veneto |
8,174 |
8,351 |
7,520 |
-10% |
|
Friuli Venezia Giulia |
1,130 |
1,334 |
1,270 |
-5% |
|
Liguria |
83 |
70 |
83 |
18% |
|
Emilia Romagna |
6,952 |
6,601 |
6,090 |
-8% |
|
Tuscany |
2,772 |
2,854 |
2,710 |
-5% |
|
Umbria |
987 |
875 |
790 |
-10% |
|
Marche |
782 |
927 |
810 |
-13% |
|
Latium |
1,527 |
1,259 |
1,070 |
-15% |
|
Abruzzo |
2,652 |
3,028 |
2,500 |
-17% |
|
Molise |
319 |
271 |
260 |
-4% |
|
Campania |
1,830 |
1,869 |
1,680 |
-10% |
|
Apulia |
5,920 |
7,169 |
6,800 |
-5% |
|
Basilicata |
144 |
125 |
100 |
-20% |
|
Calabria |
392 |
323 |
323 |
0% |
|
Siciliy |
6,175 |
5,676 |
4,540 |
-20% |
|
Sardinia |
550 |
475 |
500 |
5% |
|
Italy |
45,800 |
46,734 |
42,260 |
-10% |
Source: Istat
* Estimation Ismea-Uiv in date 12/09/2011
For any further information, please contact Corriere Vinicolo, official magazine edited by Unione Italiana Vini (www.uiv.it), redazione@corrierevinicolo.com
