Wine: DOCG Prosecco production decreases by 10%, but price rises
Venice - The harvest of Glera grapes used to make Prosecco, one of the most sought-after Italian wines abroad, has finished. This year, the hot and dry weather in Italy resulted in unfavourable conditions, with 7-10% less quintals of grapes produced compared to 2016, for an amount of approximately 650,000 hectolitres in the area of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, where Prosecco DOC is produced. The Prosecco Protection Consortium considers this result "basically positive given the conditions, if compared with other Italian businesses that, unfortunately, suffered a worse fate". The reduction in raw material is consequently reflected in the increase in the price of grapes and wine, which for Glera grapes has risen on average between 10 and 15% compared to 2016. "The 2017 grape harvest will definitely be remembered as one that put us to the test, but it did not alarm us",Innocente Nardi, President of the Consorzio di Tutela del Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, explains. "Despite a more complex vintage than usual, we were able to obtain excellent grape quality, also thanks to the summer rainfall that lasted until the end of August, which helped the grape bunches ripen in time for harvesting. The month of September was challenging, but thanks to our persistence we were able to manage the vineyards, and we are proud of the results achieved".