This year will be remembered for having the earliest and leanest wine grape harvest in the past 30 years, sector sources said on Tuesday.
In a report on the 2007 harvest, the agricultural services agency Ismea and the Union of Italian Winemakers (UIV) said grape picking began 15-20 days ahead of normal because of early heat waves and drought.
The report largely confirmed a forecast made last month by the Confederation of Italian Farmers (Cia), which also said the unusual weather was expected to produce an abundant harvest of quality grapes.
The Coldiretti farmers' union agreed and said the early, brought on by the hottest year in two centuries, would produce a superior quality wine.
The quality and origin of wines are recognised with the labels of guaranteed and controlled designation of origin (DOCG), controlled designation of origin (DOC) and typical geographic indication (IGT).
According to the Ismea-UIV report, Italy was basically split in half with production in the north running about average while regions in the south produced significantly fewer grapes, down as much as 30% in Sicily.
This year's grape-picking began some four days earlier than in 2003, another year when heat brought on a very early harvest, UIV said.
The general consensus was that quality would be very good and even excellent in some parts of Italy, including the northeast region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
According to the UIV, "2007 will also be remembered as a year marked by strong attacks by pests".
