Due to its estates throughout the Italian area, Piccini’s report about the harvest 2022 accurately reflects the wine scene
Castellina in Chianti, 10/20/2022 – With its estates located throughout the Italian territory, Piccini 1882 is a key player in the Italian wine scene, offering an unrivaled view of harvest 2022. According to the Group’s assessment framework, this year’s grapes are excellent from north to south, and the “2022” vintage promises to enter the prestigious list of the best ever.
Mario Piccini, retracing the trend of production throughout the year, says “2022 has been an unpredictable year from a meteorological point of view. This is why working in the vineyard was very challenging during the first months of the year. The winter was marked by higher average temperatures than in recent years and a lack of precipitation. The arrival of spring, however, alleviated the water stress with rainfall in different parts of Italy. As June approaches, an unprecedented heat wave has brought record temperatures. The drought worried the whole peninsula, but it was overcome thanks to the fundamental work carried out in the vineyard in the previous months”
The lack of precipitation in the summer months did not affect the production, on the contrary, it helped to keep the grapes healthy from a phytosanitary point of view.
“The grapes – says Marco Cerqua, Piccini’s Technical Director – are in excellent phytosanitary conditions. The dry summer has safeguarded the health of the plants, since the main diseases of the vine develop due to heavy rains, humidity and water stagnation. This allowed us to limit our vineyard interventions, producing healthy and balanced fruit. With a mature tannic profile and pleasant acidity, 2022’s wines will be vertical and deep, bringing elegance and refinement to the table. I think the 2022 vintage has all the credentials required to join the roll of honour and win the hearts of wine lovers”.
Between August and September, abundant rainfall fell over a large part of the country, giving relief to the vines and accompanying the plants towards a correct ripening.
Chianti Classico and Maremma Toscana
In the Chianti Classico area, where Fattoria di Valiano is located, grapes of exceptional quality have been harvested, reaching an excellent ripeness degree.
Pasquale Presutto, Fattoria di Valiano’s Technical Director, in the Chianti Classico: “Although the high temperatures of the last period, vines don’t show signs of suffering. It is due to an abundant spring of rains, which created a good water reserve; but, during the winter, also our methodical prevention strategy was essential, allowing the water to reach the deepest strata. Finally, to respond to the summer heat, during the season, our cultivation techniques have allowed us to limit evaporation.” Pasquale Presutto continues: “The rains in August have saved the season, reviving the vineyards, which were under drought for months. We were able to look with optimism at the harvest, thanks to an acceleration of phenolic maturity that was hitherto blocked by the heat. The result is one of the most beautiful maturations I have seen in the last ten years”.
In terms of yield, Chianti Classico has overtaken the numbers of last year, when spring frosts reduced fertile buds. Despite the increase, the quantities of this harvest remain below the ten-year average.
Even the Tuscan Maremma, home of Tenuta Moraia, takes note of a similar trend, although with lower yields than previous vintages. Because of the drought, the harvest period here was shortened by about ten days, giving healthy and beautiful grapes. In the glass, the reds will maintain a good quality, while the whites and rosés will reach the heights of absolute excellence.
Etna slopes in Sicily
In Torre Mora, located along Etna’s slopes, the harvest has started on September 7, two weeks earlier than the usual harvest period. The special microclimate guaranteed by the volcano has allowed the estate to thrive, as the winemaker Alessandro Barabesi explains: “A significant temperature difference between day and night, the altitude, and the constant north winds benefit the grapes, allowing them to ripen gradually. The rains fell early in August and then in September, ensuring a higher yield than in previous years, due to an optimal flowering period. Given these premises, Torre Mora did not disappoint expectations, delivering us grapes of rare beauty”.
Vulture strata in Basilicata
In Basilicata, at the foot of the Vulture, Regio Cantina has maintained a good yield, which is in line with the last few years’ quantities. The plants in this case did not seem to suffer from the lack of water, and the grapes were healthy and juicy as a result. Also contributing to this success is the organic approach to fungal diseases taken by Regio Cantina: the vines are treated with phytosanitary preparations, based on microbiology, to prevent botrytis infection. At the end of August, however, the hail caused damage to the plants, albeit limited to just two vineyards. Regio Cantina is ready for the upcoming harvest, scheduled for October 14 (about ten days in advance), which, as usual, will finish the Italian harvest.
