Renowned Sicilian wine producer Donnafugata has revealed it began picking on 22 July, an unprecedented two weeks earlier than usual as lack of rain takes its toll. Donnafugata in western Sicily is used to high temperatures with the mercury regularly reaching above 45°C on the island. However, what is dealing the region a hammer blow is the decreasing amount of rainfall it receives. “Between October and the end of July, there has been 35% less rain,” said Antonino Santoro, technical director and oenologist at Donnafugata’s main estate Contessa Entellina. Since May, he said, there has been almost no rain. Despite upping its irrigation efforts with a “micro-sprinkler” system which delivers four litres per hour per vine, the producer has been forced to pick early, starting on 22 July at its Contessa Entellina and Pantelleria estates, before moving on to Vittoria in the coming weeks and finishing on Mount Etna around mid-September. “In June and July, thanks to the water reserves available in the estate’s reservoirs, supplementary irrigation was carried out in many of the estate’s vineyards, supporting the growth and development of the vines,” reads a statement issued by the producer. “The climatic conditions have led to an early harvest, particularly for the early-ripening varieties, by about 10 days compared to the usual timing. In the high-altitude vineyards, the harvest of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero grapes has just begun, as they have reached the ideal level of ripeness and freshness for sparkling wine production.” According to Donnafugata, while overall production
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
