HARVEST 2017: A CHALLENGE WON IN THE VINEYARD
The harvest is over in the four wineries of the Domini Castellare di Castellina group. Alessandro Cellai, Chief oenologist and DCC CEO, explains how he won the challenge of a really hard season for the Italian viticulture, in the estates of Castellare di Castellina in Chianti, Rocca di Frassinello in Maremma, Feudi del Pisciotto and Gurra di Mare in Sicily.Alessandro, what should we expect from the vintage 2017?
Scopri di più su Alessandro Cellai
“The vineyards were handled appropriately: we have been able to interpret the season’s signals just in time to plan the best practices according to the climate conditions. As a result the grapevines have reacted well, despite the drought and the hot temperatures of this summer. The quality of a vintage strictly depends on the work in the vineyards before the harvest. Definitely we expect from 2017 a slightly lower yield but a really excellent quality”.
From Tuscany to Sicily: did you find differences in harvesting in Chianti, Maremma and Sicily?
“In Sicily, paradoxically, we have suffered less the drought than in Chianti and, above all, there was no excessive direct solar irradiation, which has been the big problem of this vintage. At Feudi del Pisciotto, it rained in June and July and this allowed to supply the water reserves of the soil and to regulate the heat balance optimally so the screws haven’t been damaged. In Tuscany, we have suffered more since, from the end of May until the end of August, it never rained and, above all, the direct irradiation risked to burn the plants. At the beginning of the veraison, the average temperatures were too high and forewarn a hot, droughty summer: in that moment we decided not to defoliate to guarantee to the grape bunches the right shading and protect them from the direct sun rays. This choice proved to be successful”.
Is there a vine that has suffered more than others this climate?
“Merlot grapes suffered more than other varieties because, being the earliest, they didn’t benefit from the September rainfall. However, even in this case, we were able to obtain a great fruit that has revealed a perfect acidity and maturation”.
So, it will be an excellent 2017 for the complete wine range of Castellare di Castellina, Rocca di Frassinello, Feudi del Pisciotto and Gurra di Mare?
“Certainly, the quality will be absolutely in line with the level reached until now, if not even superior.”
Enjoy the highlights of the Rocca di Frassinello’s harvest 2017, watch below the pictures gallery.
Tags: Castellare di Castellina, Domini Castellare di Castellina, Feudi del Pisciotto, Gurra di Mare, Harvest 2017, Rocca di Frassinello