Donna Coletta – Wine Culture and Territory
The most exciting time of the year has begun: the 2024 harvest season has officially started for our winery.
Yields per hectare are expected to be lower due to drought conditions, pruning interventions carried out throughout the vine’s growth cycle, both during winter pruning and green pruning. This harvest, which begins two weeks earlier than in 2023, aims to mitigate alcohol levels and sugar concentration. Therefore, the quantitative yield will be lower compared to the previous year. The grapes will be qualitatively healthy and impeccable, coming from vineyards in excellent phytosanitary condition.
The year 2024 has been characterized by high temperatures, far above the seasonal average, and low rainfall, causing significant water stress for the plants, which nonetheless have not experienced a halt in ripening. The mild winter and warm spring led to early budding in April, and the heat and low humidity prevented the spread of diseases and pathogens like downy mildew, ensuring a high-quality production.
It’s a record-breaking early harvest, where climate change plays a crucial role. The dry heat recorded at the beginning of the season has contributed to giving the grapes the maximum varietal expressiveness, which will be reflected in the production of wines with strong aromatic complexity. The water stress experienced by the plants will result in a shorter harvest period, with cultivars reaching full ripeness simultaneously. This will demand greater effort in managing the grape harvest and subsequent processing—a challenge that will require determination, care, and precision from all involved.
The harvest begins with the first clusters of Chardonnay grapes, which have reached the right level of ripeness, striking a balance between acidity and alcohol. We will then proceed with the varieties destined for sparkling wine production (especially Negroamaro), followed by other red grapes for rosé and red winemaking, and as every year, it will conclude in the Noci area with the late harvest of Gioia del Colle Primitivo.
