At Poggio Antico, harvest season began during the first week of September, slightly earlier compared to the previous year. Grape harvest marks the culmination of a hot and dry year that has not been easy to read in agronomic terms. The distinctive characteristics of this season were the excellent balance of Poggio Antico vineyards, and the prompt vineyard operations carried out by the team.
To get an appropriate picture of this season, we sat down with Pier Giuseppe D'Alessandro (aka Pippo), technical director, head of the cellar and in-charge of agronomy – the expert of Poggio Antico vineyards.
Pippo, can you give us an outline of 2022?
The season has been remarkably warm and dry. The lack of rain in winter and summer has put a strain on the aquifers, which were already drained due to poor water supply in 2021. After a mild winter and a hot spring (starting from May), summer temperatures have settled around 30°C. Yet, the vineyards of Poggio Antico have not suffered excessively.
Why is that?
Thanks to the deeply embedded root system that allows the vines to access underground moisture, especially the older vines: even during “scorching” years, Poggio Antico vineyards show excellent resilience. But we also have to thank careful vineyard management, especially of the greenery, which is essential to help the vines withstand heat and protect the berries from sunburn.
How did you operate?
We have been particularly busy with trimming the top shoots, which required numerous manual interventions. Through these operations, we ensured proper shading for the bunches and, most importantly, we have not brought additional stress to the plants, which were already strained by the high temperatures. This allowed the vines to reach perfect vegetative balance.
Was it an early harvest?
Many would think so. But we actually started in the first week of September, just a few days earlier compared to 2021. This proves that vineyard operations have been carried out according to a correct “reading” of the season.
How’s the harvest going?
The bunches are well-developed, and the berries look healthy and crisp. In order to collect perfectly ripe fruits, we have created maps indicating plant vigor with the help of a drone. Map reading and constant grape tasting (which we do on a daily basis) indicated the exact moment in which a specific plot must be harvested. This is Poggio Antico’s plot-by-plot philosophy that allows us to always select the highest quality for our wines.
So, what should we expect from the 2022 vintage?
I don’t want to speak too soon, but one thing’s for sure: we worked well, and it will be a great vintage.