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Similar to southern France, downy mildew is also causing massive problems for winegrowers in Italy. Especially in the regions of Apulia, Abruzzo and Molise, but also in Basilicata, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany, the vines are severely affected. The unusually heavy and recurring rain in May and June is to blame for the massive infestation. In the northern Italian growing regions, which are accustomed to fungal infestation for climatic reasons, the damage is less severe.
At the moment, it is difficult to make exact estimates, but the observation centre of the Italian wine association Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) speaks of harvest losses of up to 40 percent. Especially organically cultivated vineyards had to record large losses.
In some vineyards where it was not possible to treat the vines in time, there will not be a single grape to harvest," said Leonardo Valenti, professor of viticulture at the University of Milan. Winegrowers in the south of the country, who have little experience with the fungal disease, had only reacted when the pathogen had already spread considerably. Many producers had underestimated the incubation period, Valenti said.
Professor Attilio Scienza, one of the world's leading experts on viticulture and oenology, also explains: "Initially, the fungus only damaged the leaves, but now we are seeing the first signs of desiccation on the grapes. It entered the grape during flowering, lay dormant for a few weeks and will show itself in full during the ripening period. Only then will we be able to quantify the damage."
(ru / source: Winenews, UIV)