Severe weather this spring may have irreversibly damaged vineyards in the northwest region of Piedmont and producers fear their harvest will be half what it was last year.
According to experts from the Coldiretti farmers' union, who examined over 18,000 hectares of vines in the province of Asti, a hot and sunny summer may be able to reduce the drop in production to 30%.
''It will be touch-and-go straight through the harvest. Another big rain storm like the ones in May could spoil the whole harvest,'' observed Maurizio Soave, the Coldiretti president in Asti.
''The best we can hope for now is for a good harvest in terms of quality, which will allow us to make a premier product,'' he added.
