Vineyards in Advance: The Threat of Late Frost for the Italian Wine

The early waking of the screw, a phenomenon more and more common because of climate change, is putting a strain on the european winegrowers, raising significant concerns about the risk of late frosts. This dynamic not only threatens the yield and the quality of the vintages in the future, but also redefines the strategies of the management of the vineyard and the choices of the consumers aware of. Understanding these challenges is critical to appreciate even more the work that lies behind every bottle of Italian wine excellence, and to guide our selections on Overlooking the Winery.

Context: When Nature Accelerates

In the wine-growing regions of the South of France, as reported by Vitisphere, the vineyards have shown an awakening, with an advance of two or three weeks as compared to the norm. Already at the beginning of march, in areas such as the Fitou, the screws were at the stage of “gem fuzzy cotton” (budburst), and in some cases, as for the varieties Muscat, and Chardonnay, the buds had already opened with 2-3 leaves separate. This phenomenon, although observed in France, is a wake-dalarm that resonates in many wine-growing areas, including theItaly, where similar conditions are not rare. The awakening premature exposes the young and fragile shoots at the risk of devastating frosts, a climatic event which can impair theentire year.

Analysis: The Causes of an Awakening Premature to be

The main cause of this advance is to be found in the temperatures unusually mild recorded between the end ofwinter, and lthe beginning of spring. As explained by Gabriel Ruetsch, head of the department of agronomy Vignobles Foncalieu, prolonged periods of unusually hot induce the screw out of his state of dormancy for a long time. In addition, in some areas, the temperature of the soil, which is not lowered enough during thewinter, helping to maintain a more “active” for the roots. This scenario is afurther confirmation of theimpact of climate change onagriculture and, in particular, on the viticulture. The unpredictable nature of these events makes planning and the management of the vineyard extremely complex, with growers who are faced with new challenges and increasingly frequent.

Henri Cases, winemaker of the Domaine Saint-Martin, highlights another critical aspect: “thereis no guarantee that there will be frosts at the end of march or allthe beginning of April. If we have a frost, it would be a disaster for the region.” These words reflect a widespread concern. The combination of a winter not cold enough and awakening early vegetative creates a window of vulnerability that is very wide, where a single adverse climatic event can delete months of work and investment. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of complete essential tasks such as pruning in time for all the screws, because these cycles and unexpected.

Implications: From the Vineyard to the Table

The consequences of these climate dynamics will reverberate on multiple levels.

• For Growers: The threat of late frosts requires significant investments in security systems, such as sprinklers frost, candles or fans, which are expensive and not always sufficient. The loss of avintage can have an economic impact is devastating on farms, especially those of small and medium-sized.
• For Consumers: Avintage hit by frosts can lead to a reduction in the availability of some of the premium wines , and, consequently, to an increase in prices. In addition, the quality of the wine can be affected by pushing consumers to pay greater attention to theorigin and the resilience of the producers.
• For Horeca and Buyers: The professionals must cope with theuncertainty in the supply chain. It becomes crucial to select reliable suppliers, who adopt sustainable agricultural practices, and innovative solutions to mitigate risks, thus ensuring the continuity and quality of their offerings.

What does it Mean for the Italian Wine and theEVO Premium

The Italian wine with the incredible diversity of the terroir and grape varieties, it is located on the first line to tackle these challenges. However, it is precisely in these conditions that emerges excellence. The Italian producers, often linked to age-old traditions and a profound knowledge of its territory, are adopting innovative strategies. This includes the selection of varieties more resistant, theadoption of agronomic practices that delay budding or protect the gems, and aincreasing attention to the biodiversity of the vineyard. Domina Winery is committed to identify and make the most of those producers of wine premium that, in spite of the bad weather, they are able to maintain the highest quality standards, bearing witness to the resilience andingenuity of the industry.

Our mission as curators is to guide our customers towards informed choices, highlighting how the quality is intrinsically linked to the ability of a manufacturer to interpret and respond to environmental challenges. Choose a wine selection Dominates Winery means to support aagriculture conscious and value the heritage of Italian wine.

The challenges posed by climate change, viticulture are undeniable and complex. The early waking of the screw and the consequent risk of late frosts represent a serious threat, but also a catalyst forinnovation and theadoption of more sustainable practices. Domina Winery will continue to explore the world of the Italian wine andEVO premium, by the rigour of those expressions that will not only delight the palate, but also tell stories of resilience, passion and respect for the land.

Explore our selection of wines that embody the resilience and theexcellence of the territory, visit our wine cellar virtual.

Related products:

• White Wines Structured
• Red Wines of the Mountain
• of Bubbles Classic Method
• olive Oil from Sustainable Agriculture

Source: Vitisphere, with contributions Vignobles Foncalieu and the Fédération des Vignerons Indépendants de France.

Developed by the editors Overlooking the Winery.