Decanter’s James Button reports on the 2020 harvest in Italy, which unlike the chaotic year the rest of us have been having, looks to be like a successful vintage for many producers. Currently, harvest is underway in many regions with early varieties already in winery and later varieties are nearly ready to be picked.
Button interviewed Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi of Montalcino’s Tenuta Luce, who exclaimed that “‘It is important to be ready to pick at just the right moment. We started harvesting our Sangiovese on 18 September, but we will wait a few more days for the clusters dedicated to the cru of Luce Brunello. We are very positive: the fruit is healthy and shows great aromatic potential. We fully believe that 2020 will be a beautiful vintage for our Brunello.”
Similarly Button spoke with Tommasi’s Giancarlo Tommasi, whose wineries span Lombardy, Veneto, Puglia and Basilicata: “On 18 August we began the harvest in the Oltrepò Pavese: a splendid day and splendid grapes! We also monitored on a daily basis the final stage of ripening of the Pinot Grigio at our Prunea estate in Vapolicella Classica, the harvest for which began on 26 August […]On the other hand, for the Vermentino at Poggio al Tufo [Tuscany] and for the Fiano at Surani [Puglia], the harvest started in the first week of September. After checking the state of ripeness of the fruit every day, we have been picking the grapes for our Lugana at the Le Fornaci Estate since 14 September.”
For more information on the harvest, Tenuta Luce and the various Tommasi estates, read the full article HERE.
Related Producers
Tenuta Luce
Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Today, Luce goes so much further than was originally envisioned when started as a project over 20 years ago. The estate now has some of the most exceptional vineyards in Montalcino and, as of 2018, a state of the art winery to nurture every step of the winemaking process. The original vision, however, remains the same: to produce a bold and ambitious Super Tuscan that reflects the culture of Montalcino.
Tommasi
Veneto, Italy
Tommasi has always been a standard bearer of the Amarone appellation. Established in 1902 around the family home in Pedemonte in Valpolicella, the winery has grown and expanded into the choicest areas of the region under the guidance of the many generations of the Tommasi family. The winery is known above all for its classic approach to winemaking in Valpolicella, favoring elegance and balance, and paying homage to the winemaking tradition of their home region.
