Harvest 2011: All postponed on the Candia hills: the high temperatures postpone the harvesting phase. The harvest of over 3300 quintals of grapes is expected. Starlings in the attack of the Doc grape: Coldiretti asks for hunting in derogation.
30.08.2011 - The resolution in the Regional Council next week. Aurelio Cima, President of the Consorzio Candia dei Colli Apuani Doc: “A really beautiful year: there will be quality and quantity”. We start, indeed no. All postponed to the Candia hills for the traditional appointment with the postponed harvest, due to the great heat of the last few days which blocked the ripening of the grapes for at least ten days.
Everything should have started already this week but the excessive temperatures and the evaluations of the agronomists have advised the winemakers to wait for the lowering of temperatures and maybe a few drops of summer rain to complete an almost perfect ripening.
The first estimates by the Consorzio del Candia dei Colli Apuani Doc were positive both from a qualitative and quantitative point of view which, however, had to deal, for the first time, with the phenomenon of starlings, especially in strong growth guilty of devastation - is greedy for grapes and fruit trees - all over Tuscany. According to Coldiretti (info on https://www.massacarrara.coldiretti.it/) starlings have devoured from 6% to 8% of bunches of grapes without counting the damage caused to the orchards.
The phenomenon affects the entire DOC area: from Bonascola to Montignoso. “An expanding phenomenon also in our province - admits Vincenzo Tongiani, Provincial President of Coldiretti - as in many areas of Tuscany. The damages reported last year, throughout the Region, amounted to 160 thousand euros but are only a very small part of the damage actually suffered. The complicated and cumbersome bureaucratic process and the timing of reimbursements cool down claims for damages: it can take up to 12-14 months to obtain them ".
The counter-offensive of the Tuscany Region is ready and after the requests of Coldiretti it is ready to bring to the Council the resolution that will allow hunting in derogation in those areas where the starlings are numerous. “Next week we will present the resolution to allow hunting in derogation - announces Loris Rossetti, President of the Agriculture Commission of the Tuscany Region - however, the basic objective is to include starlings among the huntable species.
Otherwise every year we will be forced to repeat the resolution and the whole process that follows. The Province of Massa Carrara is also one of the areas where the transfer can be hunted by way of derogation ".
Starlings aside, Aurelio Cima, President of the Consortium and authoritative voice of the producers of Candia, confirms that the season is ready to give a golden harvest. “We were ready to leave in the next few days - he analyzes - but too hot, with temperatures between 28 and 29 degrees, blocked the ripening of the grapes. Now we wait for the temperatures to drop slightly again. We foresee a truly beautiful vintage in terms of quality and quantity ”.
Numbers in quality are those of the small Candia Doc with about 300 hectares of vineyards between the municipalities of Massa, Carrara and Montignoso and a production (see table) of around 3300 quintals of grapes (about 2300 hectoliters), between white and black.
Over 300 thousand bottles: 200 thousand of white, between sweet and dry, and 100 thousand of red, including Rosso Doc (Sangiovese base and other local grapes), Vermentino and Massaretta. “The estimates - explains Cima - are very positive. We expect 10% more production than last year. There were no fungal attacks and this helped us. For the harvest we will talk about it again between 10 and 15 September ".
Despite the recent environmental catastrophes that have affected the Candia hills with all the resulting difficulties, viticulture is one of the sectors where young people want to invest. Several companies run by under 35s demonstrate that an important generational change is underway. "Young people
- analyzes Roberto Verzanini, Director of the Consortium - they are returning to regain possession of our hills.
Someone has inherited the family business, often historic companies; others have decided to embark on a new path and I am thinking of Silvia Bellè's “Belfiore”, Marco Cristiani's “Le Piane” and Marzia Michelucci's “La Pergola”.
Our Doc is growing, amidst difficulties, but it is growing, and the interest of young people and fresh capital is an extraordinary sign ”.
Typology | Quintals (q) | Hectoliters (hl) | Bottles |
White Doc | 2.200 | 1500 | 200.000 |
Red Doc | 1.100 | 800 | 100.000 |
Total | 3.300 | 2300 | 300.000 |
Table prepared by the Consorzio di Tutela and Coldiretti