PIEDMONT 2023 VINTAGE

The Piedmont 2023 vintage was a real challenge for producers, particularly complicated because of the tough weather conditions. The 2022 water shortage combined with poor winter rainfall, minimized the water reserves in the early part of the year. Later, the intense rains of May and early June were crucial and helped to bring adequate water supply to the soil. After that, the vegetative development of the vines was excellent.

The event that characterised (negatively) the vintage was certainly the hailstorm of early July (6/7/2023), extraordinary for both intensity and the hit surface. The damages were considerable, in some cases the production yields were reduced by 60-70%. For the most affected vineyards there might be also a negative impact on the next vintage because the shoots useful for pruning have been irreparably damaged.

After the hailstorm, paying extreme attention to the care and management of the vineyards has been crucial, in order to better preserve the life of the plants and the production left. Thanks to this, thanks to the favorable climatic trend of the following summer period and thanks to the ability of the vine to grow in difficult conditions, the plants have recovered. The good weather and the rains of August and September helped to recover a season that seemed compromised, offering very healthy and ripe bunches. Instead, nothing could have be done for the production yields that were irreparably compromised by the hailstorm.

In conclusion, 2023 can be classified as a difficult vintage, while, on the other hand, quality has been preserved and there will be great surprises from the quality point of view and the longevity of the wines. 

For the whites, both Arneis and Gavi look to be full of promise offering notes of fresh orchard fruit like apple and pear along with white florals.

For the reds, Barbera also holds promise offering youthful notes of red fruit along with earthy spice, while brooding Dolcetto is both full of dark fruit while ready to be drunk young.

For Nebbiolo – both Barolo and Barbaresco – the wines are exhibiting the classic notes of rose and tar along with rich red cherry.