Forecast: Valle D'Aosta Region's Wine Output Expected to Be Down 15%
Staff Writer - August 18, 2008
According to estimates by the local agricultural council, the wine production of the small, northeasternmost Italian region of Valle d'Aosta is expected to decrease 15% compared to the 2007.
Vineyards in the Arnaud Aerea of Valle D'Aosta
Massimo Bellocchia, the council's wine expert, said that the sudden changes of temperatures during the blossoming period, between May and June 2008, has affected negatively the grape production in Valle d'Aosta. In addition, the high humidity led to damages as well, causing avariety of diseases, Bellocchia added.
The production of Masyolet and Fumin, wines made with regional native vines, could actually drop as much as 40% in 2008, while the output of international grapes such as Chardonnay, Gamay and Müller Thurgau will probably be spared most damages.
Back in July 29, 2008, the Italian news agency ANSA, quoting the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA, or Italian Farmers' Confederation), reported that the wine production in Italy is expected to top 44,550 million hectoliters in 2008, up from 40,500 million hectoliters produced the previous year. The production however, is lower of than in 2006 (49,631 million hectoliters), in 2005 (51,304 million hectoliters), and 2004 (52,935 million hectoliters). In 2003 the output was similar to 2008, with 44,098 million hectoliters produced.
The CIA expects Italian national grape production to increase between 8% and 10% in 2008, following the biggest Italian grape harvest drop (18%) in 60 years, registered in 2007.
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