Our "Wineletters"...

Fall 2023

Harvesting 2023

The harvest is the beginning of a new story, the creation of new wines, each one with its own unique personality and characteristics, the first step towards wines that capture the past year’s character and soul.

In the Chianti Senese area, the vegetative cycle of the vine was characterized by a mild and very dry autumn-winter (pre-new season), an uncertain and unexpected variability that characterized a late spring, and that compromised the regular summer climate trend. The phenological development of the plants saw a rather regular vegetative recovery, up to the budding phase and the beginning of flowering.

The rains of May and June gave rise to a notable vegetative development, in some cases prolonging flowering, but creating sudden changes in temperature, which disturbed the fruit setting, favoring the millerandage and dropping of the small fruits. The continuous changes in the weather and the high level of humidity had also favored the spreading of the main ampelopathies, such as Peronospora. Here in the Chianti Senese area this had manifested massively already in the early vegetative stages, imposing careful controls and requiring several agronomic interventions in the vineyard: a scenario that reminded us of several decades ago, when the seasons were marked by alternating heat and humidity and not by the torrid climate like we have had in this past decade.

The summer season experienced several heat peaks, though limited compared to previous years. July was characterized by heat and lack of precipitation, which led to a significant development of the grape bunches, thanks to the water reserves accumulated in the spring. Then, the first days of August saw below-average temperatures but then closed with a final surge, favoring the first signs of veraison. The rest of August gave us stable and sunny weather, with peak temperatures reaching 40° between August 22nd and 25th. At the end of the month, there were significant climate disruptions that marked a sharp drop in temperatures, which then stabilized in the first days of September.

The weather conditions in September and October were decisive for the grape harvest. The ripening period was slightly delayed compared to recent previous years, which meant that the full harvest occurred towards mid-September, ending towards the beginning of October. Specifically good excursions between day and night favored the aromatic enrichment of the grapes, an important element and, as always, we will preserve during fermenting process.

In short, a crazy-weathered year highlighted once again how our technical-professional capacities allow us to obtain quality, in line with recent previous years, albeit the significant 30 % reduction of our overall production.

In conclusion, on one hand, an adaptation to climate change is necessary, and on the other, we must continue to plan for constant and careful monitoring in the vineyard, with timely agronomic interventions, and careful practices in the cellar to preserve the excellence of our wine!

Fall 2022

Harvesting 2022

This vintage seemed to predict a harvest that was by no means easy. Due to the frequent waves of extreme heat and drought that hit Italy, the vineyards risked having a reduced yield and the wines having a high alcohol content and structure being too full-bodied. Initially we thought of having an early harvest, but Nature amazed us once again. In August the scenario changed: thanks to the providential rains that gave us a new perspective”.

Here in the Sienese Chianti, the winter was characterized by above normal temperatures and low rainfall, conditions which then characterized all the vegetative phases, defining 2022 as the driest year since 1800. A long-lasting abnormal heat spell combined with a deep drought strongly affected the growth and the vegetative development: the vines, however, were able to resist and adapt to the anomalous climatic conditions. This is also thanks to more modern vineyard cultivation techniques and, above all, the introduction of emergency irrigation.

The months of May, June and especially July, for example, recorded heat peaks that exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. In August, “intelligent” rainfall arrived to most of the country, which means that it did not cause damage, but rather allowed our vines to resume their vegetative growth and conclude the ripening process of the grapes.

The moderate rains in late August cooled the air and granted a perfect temperature range between day and night, which is essential for the phenolic ripeness of our grapes. Our vineyards reacted well and were in excellent condition at the time of harvest, which officially started on September 6th here in our Estate, with perfectly wholesome Merlot grapes; the ideal September weather conditions allowed us to reap excellent Sangiovese clusters starting from the 21st. Then we closed up with the harvest in the smaller Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah vineyards in the first half of October, when there was a slight increase in production of about 10-15%. Thanks to the favorable climatic conditions the musts provided excellent quality, with a good sugar / acidity ratio.

In conclusion, we can say that the persistence of the dry season gave us perfectly healthy and highly concentrated grapes; in the cellar, we limited the maceration periods and micro-oxygenated the musts in order to be able to obtain wines with soft tannins and rich fruity bouquets.

The 2022 vintage promises dense and powerful wines, with important structures and a privileged footprint!

Fall 2021

Harvesting 2021, a very bizarre vintage

Climate change requires ever more careful and thorough vineyard monitoring, which also prompts us to pay particular attention to protecting the environment by implementing sustainable viticulture practices. With each year, and as we approach the Harvesting Season, our great and renewed enthusiasm has us focusing our energy on obtaining the best grapes for our future wines. These wines are OUR terroir ambassadors”.

Here in the Sienese Chianti, Winter was characterized by average seasonal temperatures and abundant rains, which favored the accumulation of important water reserves in the soil. During the months of February and March, at the beginning of Spring, there were typical cold temperatures, that did not affect the phenological development of the vines.
Unfortunately, problems arose during April, when there was a sharp drop in temperatures, accompanied by morning frosts, especially in the week following Easter April 7th, 8th and 15th when temperatures dropped even below – 6 °C. These climatic conditions mainly affected the vineyards located in the lower valley, in particular the Sangiovese which then only partially was able to achieve a good development of shoots and an excellent flowering. Fortunately, a dry climatic period followed and helped to limit fungal pathologies.

Some vineyards, on the other hand, where still in a vegetative state and suffered less damage and were able to recover very well. The 2021 grape production was felt these fluctuations and created various results within the vineyards.
Due to the cold thermic conditions in April and May, the flowering phase began later than usual, and then growth continued more regularly during the season.
Summer finally arrived at the beginning of June, with high temperatures. Between the end of July and the first days of August we saw the first signs of Veraison phase, accompanied by relevant signs of water stress: in fact, the maximum temperatures recorded important peaks of almost 40 °C which, combined with the long period of absence of rainfall and light breezes, caused a decrease of the humidity in the soil and widespread phenomena of water stress in the bunches. The persistence of the dry season, however, allowed us to bring perfectly healthy and highly concentrated grapes to an excellent phenolic ripeness.

The first weeks of September, were characterized by sunny and stable weather, with very mild temperatures and summer sensations. Here at Trecciano Winery Harvesting Season began on 9 September with our Merlot grapes in our small vineyards, and continuing in the third week with the Sangiovese harvest.
Late September brought nice cooler days and light rainfalls that favored our Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc and Syrah grapes which were then harvested in the first ten days of October. Considering our grape production, we can say that the 2021 Harvest recorded a drop in production by about 30% and thanks to favorable climatic conditions provided excellent quality, with a good sugar / acidity ratio. Particularly interesting polyphenolic contents have been detected, which lead us to have high excellence expectations especially for our medium and long aging red wines.

Fall 2020

The year 2020 will always be connected to the COVID-19 virus appearance all over the world and, in particular for us, in Italy. Our lives – daily and family activities – either stopped altogether or slowed to a trickle. Mother Nature’s activity in the countryside did not stop and indeed showed us all its beautiful vigorous energy!

After a dry winter season characterized by a low rainfall, vines began to sprout in late March, during very cold days. These low and freezing temperatures, even below zero, caused moderate damage in our vineyards located at the bottom of the valley, and consequently a 15-20 per cent reduction in grape production.
Spring season gave us warm and sunny days, with temperatures above the seasonal average. We worked our vineyards following the vine’s vegetative cycle. We tied the shoots to the support wires, we removed secondary buds formed on the vine stock, and as needed, we made phytosanitary organic treatments to support the growth phase and ensure our vineyards’ good health.
The blooming period was delayed to the second half of May. This brought an excellent result favored by a good climatic trend, with warm, dry and slightly windy days. Th fruit set was excellent and produced optimum new young clusters.
Despite a fresh and rainy June, the Summer season started, bringing very high temperatures, especially in August, when we had extremely limited excursions between night and day temperatures. This climatic trend caused water stress in the grapes, which we promptly solved by practicing drip irrigation during the hottest days and nights, according to the rules laid down by the production regulation. Fortunately, such a dry season led an excellent ripening of our grapes: perfectly healthy, sound and very concentrated in fruity aromas.
Traditionally September would symbolize the beginning of Fall, but instead, as has happened in the past few years, this 2020 vintage has seen an extension of the Summer. The first two weeks were very balanced, with sunny weather and mild daily temperatures, and our 2020 Harvesting Season began on September 14th with the Merlot grapes in our small vineyards; followed, in the third week, by the harvesting of Sangiovese. Late September brought fresh temperatures and some rainfalls, that allowed our Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab. Franc and Syrah grapes to reach an optimum ripening to be harvested in first ten days of October.
Thanks to the optimal climate trend that improved week by week, we can say that we had a quality 2020 Harvest: delivering very promising grapes, especially for medium to long aging red wines.

With great optimism, we welcome the gifts of nature and, contrary to the negative world economic situation, we have a renewed enthusiasm as we now are patiently working the musts, which begin to take shape, telling us a new stimulating story: the story of our new wine.

Fall 2019

We can really define as rich the harvest that we left behind a few days ago, both qualitatively and quantitatively and we are fully satisfied with it!

By analyzing the climatic trend, we can point out that the past winter was characterized by temperatures below average, it brought poor rains with an anomalous distribution and here, in the Montagnola Senese, it even brought some local snowfall in the last days of January.
On the contrary, since the end of February, the recorded temperatures were well above seasonal average and brought a significant advance of the growing season that had already started in March.
Then the blooming period was slightly slowed down by a drop in temperature and heavy rainfall in May that, on the other hand, allowed an important water supply, suitable to face a hot summer
with very few rainfalls.

Since the first days of June summer definitely started, bringing very high temperatures which persisted above the seasonal average even for quite long periods, from 7 to 10 days. These conditions re-balanced the phenological phases and the sugar ripeness, leading the fruit to a wholesome growth, that has satisfied our quality expectations.
The moderate rains in the last days of August cooled the air and granted a perfect temperature range between day and night, which is essential for the phenolic ripeness of our grapes. Our vineyards reacted well and got in excellent conditions at the time of harvest, that officially started on September 16th here in our Estate, with perfectly wholesome Merlot grapes; the ideal September weather conditions allowed us to reap excellent Sangiovese clusters starting from 26th. Then we closed up with the harvest in the little vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah in the first half of October, stating a slight increase in production of about 10-15%. The produced musts showed a good balancing between sugar content and acidity, that is an important requirement to obtain regular fermentations and, as a consequence, fresh, fruity wines, with a good potential for the development of our major and more structured wines.
The 2019 vintage confirms the climate change in action and we notice, above all, the lack of linearity in seasons, with an increase of violent phenomena that happen more and more frequently. After all, we are witnessing an increase in seasonal unpredictability and even a rise in temperatures that technically leads to an advance of the phenologic phases.

So how shall we behave, as vine-dressers, to mitigate these effects in real terms?

Certainly, we have to think again of our work in the vineyard and choose to carry out a more eco-sustainable production through farming practices that can help the vine to tolerate weather anomalies. This means taking care of the winter pruning, nourishing the soil by promoting its natural fertility, intervening in the leaf nourishing in order to obtain an excellent metabolic activity, able to foster the natural defense processes of the vine and doing the cluster thinning. Every single action we do must absolutely respect the environment and its resources, becoming a precious heritage for the future generations.

Harvest 2017

2017 – A complicated harvest

A very unusual harvest period at Tenuta di Trecciano has just come to an end. We all know about the great heat that plagued all of Italy from May until the first days of September. In reality, it was not only the high summer temperatures that made this 2017 production particular. The first determining factor was the cold after an early warming. In April, after a few weeks of beautiful balmy weather that had started the vigorous vine growth, there was a wave of frost that stopped explosion of part of the newborn sprouts; especially in the vineyards located in a lower position of the valley and not protected by the forests.
Then the 2017 season continued as it started: with abnormal heat – when the temperature rose well above 40 degrees Celsius and extended over a long period of time. Due to all this incredible warmth there wasn’t very much rain, causing a further fall in production. Fortunately, the grapes that have been harvested are healthy and the vintage 2017 will have intense quality, even if it lacks in quantity. The heat favored sugar maturation, which means, when fermented, significant alcoholic gradations.
This year’s harvest at Trecciano started early, and we harvested our Merlot grapes already in the last week of August. We continued harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Syrah and Sangiovese grapes in the first half of September. These grapes enjoyed and benefited from the first seasonal rainfall in the early September.

In conclusion, this will be a vintage for true vineyard workers!

Vineyard workers who, like us, were able to interpret such unusual and extreme climate trends, and have worked on the soil to help the vines against drought, have carefully sorted the grapes at harvest time, and then have limited maceration periods and micro-oxygenation of musts. All of our care and knowledge has given us wonderful millennium 2017 wines with soft tannins and rich fruity bouquets that are yet dense and powerful, with important structures and privileged footprints!

Marco Rosati

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