Podcast 013 | From Harvest to Year-End - The Weather in Chianti with Piero Lanza
Piero Lanza from Poggerino winery
Today, I want to tell you all about my last visit to the Poggerino winery with Piero, our local weather whiz and winemaker. As usual, he shared some really interesting insights into what the weather's been up to and how the latest harvest went.
A Challenging Summer and the 2021 Harvest
Piero told me that the summer of 2021 was super dry and hot, which made wine production tricky. Still, he started harvesting on September 23rd, taking a step-by-step approach: he picks the grapes at different stages of ripeness. This gives the wines a special complexity, as unripe grapes have more acidity and aroma, while overripe grapes add richness and depth.
Luckily, the rain at the end of September brought much-needed relief. Even though there were a bit fewer grapes, the quality of the harvest was impressive. Piero predicts that the 2021 vintage will be very good, even if not absolutely outstanding.
Weather and Winemaking
One interesting part of our chat was observing the weather around September 19th, which is San Gennaro's feast day. We noticed that the weather often shifts from warm to cool around then, which affects the vines. After the harvest, the weather was perfect for getting the soil ready for the next season. Looking ahead, Piero hopes for snow in winter, as it melts slowly and gives the soil a steady supply of water. Snow also protects the vines from extreme temperatures.
Finally, Piero shared a funny story: The Poggerino winery holds the world record for the biggest pumpkin, weighing a whopping 1260 kilos in 2021! This brought them unexpected fame and really shows the versatility and passion of the folks behind this winery.
Our chat with Piero was, as always, super insightful and full of valuable glimpses into winemaking and the weather in Chianti. We're so thankful to Piero for his time and wish him and his team a wonderful Christmas and a successful 2022!
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