Increasingly extreme weather phenomena do not help winemakers to work in peace and for this very reason we will have to get used to dealing with these situations with intelligence and with the awareness that such extremes have a lesser negative impact in the historic areas for viticulture, where the adaptation of native vines is more rooted. On the contrary, the cultivation of “imported” vines in less suitable areas is suffering more: “Winemakers and the various DOCs should start to adapt to this new normality – explains Maule. – This situation involves significant challenges but also opportunities, which require deep thinking and a renewed approach on the part of producers. However, we must distinguish between regions such as Sicily, where we are witnessing an unprecedented drought, or Alsace, where today it is permitted to plant Chenin Blanc and Vermentino in the denomination, and regions such as Veneto where there are now too many vineyards on the plains and fewer and fewer on the hills”.
The reflection arises from the fact that, tracing an overview of the different situations along the Peninsula, they appear very different. In the north-west, the rainfall of the spring months - equal to 1500 mm, double the average - has put the associated winemakers to the test, with significant losses due to downy mildew , while in the center-south the high temperatures and drought are heavily influencing the grape harvest that has already begun. In terms of quality, we will have to wait for the end of fermentation, while average production is generally within the norm.
For several years, the VinNatur Association has supported its member winemakers with ongoing support through conferences , training courses dedicated to production techniques and vineyard management, and collaborations with agronomists and entomologists who work to reawaken the vineyard and restore an optimal balance. Among these, the monitoring of the biodiversity of the vineyard ecosystem is active, which also includes observation of soil health, together with Vitenova Vine Wellness, a Friulian agronomic consultancy company.
“Natural viticulture does not mean relying on witchcraft – continues Maule – but on the contrary using science and all the knowledge we have to work our vineyards in the best way, increasing their healthiness and consequently their resistance to stressful situations, thus avoiding resorting to chemicals”.
Monitoring has highlighted the important repercussions of the previous year, 2023, on soil biodiversity . The greater compaction due to frequent rains and numerous tractor passages has contributed to a general asphyxia and a consequent decline in microbial life. The control and correct management of the soil by the associated winemakers, respecting its balance and ecosystem without technological forcing, have also been able to make the difference in this case by guaranteeing a living and healthy soil.
