2010 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
Grape harvest 2010 in Tuscany has been one of most heterogenous of the last years: such difference is due mainly to the capricious meterological course that, beginning from the month of July, has influenced the maturation of the grapes. At Ghizzano in particular, after a rainy winter and spring, we have had a “fresh” summer with frequent weak rains and remarkable thermal excursions that have lengthened the maturations and, for some varieties, has rendered our grape harvest rather difficult. We have been forced to delay the harvest and to make a strict selection of the grapes, particularly of Sangiovese, because problems of botritis began to show up. Mid October days of sun have instead allowed to the late harvest varieties such as Cabernet, either Frank and Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot to re-establish the sugar degrees and to complete the maturation.

Thus, the result of grape harvest 2010 in terms of quantity of production reveal a decrease of around 25%, due also to the strict selection that we had to operate in order to choose only good grapes. After the malolactic fermentations have been completed, we are able to assert that the quality of the vintage is good for the French varieties, even if not of great structure but of good freshness and great perfumes, and a very weak one for the Sangiovese, even though its perfumes are alive and very elegant. Given these considerations I saw myself obliged not to produce Veneroso 2010 and also to verify, in the arc of 2011, if Nambrot will have the necessary structure to be made. Of course it will be a great vintage for our wine ILGHIZZANO since all Sangiovese coming from either old and young vineyards will be used to bottle this wine.

2009 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
In 2009, winter and spring were characterised by good levels of rainfall, although temperatures were so mild that the vegetative development of the vine was earlier than usual.

From the point of view of grape conditions, budding took place in the first ten days of April, confirming a trend established in 2008, while the flowers blossomed between the 20th and the end of May in most of the vineyards, during a shorter time span than the previous year (when the blossoming period ended towards the middle of June), thanks to the fact that temperatures were persistently above the seasonal average. Veraison began in late July, as in 2008, and was completed perfectly, according to experts, around the 20th of August. There were fewer difficulties with regard to the prevention of disease (downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis in particular) compared to the previous grape harvest, thanks to a climatic trend which, with abundant winter and spring rainfall, ensured a plentiful supply of water for vines. The rains continued until the end of May and then stopped altogether. There was no precipitation for three months; this led to a certain amount of stress in certain younger vineyards and particularly for Merlot grapes, which we were forced to harvest on the 24th of August. Fortunately, unlike 2003, temperatures were never excessively high and the considerable, constant temperature range (with nocturnal temperatures falling as low as 16°C) throughout the entire summer, enabled good phenolic ripening for late varieties such as Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Furthermore, the rains that fell in the first few days of September contributed considerably to maintain the excellent aromas of the grapes. As regards grape maturation, Sangiovese grapes have a slightly higher sugar content (about 0.5 degrees higher) and a lower acid content (-1 g/l of total acidity) than the previous year.

2008 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
The 2008 grape harvest was characterised by a very rainy spring, which slightly delayed the vegetative development but was important to rebalance the lack of water suffered in 2007, especially in soils with a higher lime-clay content. The extension of constant drizzly periods during June and July, with medium-high temperatures, however favoured the development of classic vine diseases: first downy mildew and then powdery mildew. Pathogens had a much bigger influence than in 2007 and we did not always manage to keep them under control due to the implementation of organic farming techniques. Where we did succeed in reducing the damage caused by fungal infections, the quality and quantity of our grapes were excellent. Where the situation escaped our control (particularly in some north/north-westerly exposed Sangiovese vineyards) we suffered an estimated loss of about 30%, largely of Sangiovese variety. Nevertheless, 2008 wines are profound and very expressive. They conserve great flavours and, thanks to a good acidity, have plenty of fruity freshness.

2007 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
The 2007 climatic trend in Tuscany was characterised by a winter and spring which were generally mild, with lower than average rainfall for the season. This induced the vine to bud about a week earlier than the previous year. Summer was characterised by a rather hot climate, with no rainfall until the middle of August. Fortunately the late August rains helped the grapes to ripen, slowing down the complete phenolic maturity, especially of late grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The rains continued, alternating with days of sunshine, until mid September. This was a long grape harvest for us and we did not complete the Sangiovese harvest until the 18th of October, finishing with the Petit Verdot on the 22nd of October. This did however allow a slow and more complete ripening of the grapes. 2007 wines are balanced, complete and characterised by a good acidity, meaning that they will also have an excellent cellar life.

2006 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
The 2006 vegetative cycle started fifteen days late due to low temperatures in March and April. The return of fine weather in the months that followed brought vines to blossom beautifully at the end of May and to an excellent setting in June. An albeit scarce rainfall in August and temperatures that were never excessively high prevented vines from suffering water-related stress. There were important ripening processes with sometimes excessive alcohol contents, especially for Merlot grapes. This was a very potent grape harvest, reaching peaks of excellence for Sangiovese, which benefited from the lack of pressure on plant health and the high temperatures that characterised the summer.

2005 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
2005 in the hills around Pisa was characterised by a rather cold winter with frequent, average intensity rainfall and snow, continuing until March. Fortunately this cold weather did not influence the vegetative development of vines. Early spring was quite cold but very hot and persistent towards the end, with above average daytime temperatures and considerable nocturnal ranges. This initially caused a vegetative delay in vineyards and difficulties with setting, followed by a sudden recovery with accelerated veraison and ripening, resulting in an earlier grape harvest than the previous year. Summer was characterised by high but not excessive temperatures and some rain at the end of July and August prevented water-related stress, especially in younger vineyards. Work in vineyards proceeded as usual and the grape health was quite good, although some areas were affected by pathologies like powdery mildew. Unlike other coastal areas, there was not much rainfall during the grape harvest and this allowed the bunches of grapes to reach complete phenolic maturity. This was a good grape harvest for our costal hill area.

2004 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
2004 in the hills around Pisa was characterised by a winter with medium-low temperatures, frequent medium intensity rainfall and a light snowfall in February. Fortunately the cold weather did not influence the vegetative development of vines. Spring was a veritable alternation of sun and light, frequent rain, which allowed excellent vegetative development but made it harder to manage the typical vine diseases, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Summer was characterised by high but not excessive temperatures and some rainfall in the middle of July and August prevented the water-related stress, particularly in younger vineyards, that had occurred the previous year. Veraison and ripening were excellent and the daytime/nocturnal temperature range was also good for the synthesis and accumulation of polyphenols in grapes. More rain in mid-September (25 mm) enabled late grape varieties such as Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon to reach full phenolic maturity, with delayed harvests (for the area) but excellent results. For our coastal hill zone this was an exceptional grape harvest.

2003 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
High temperatures and an evident lack of water were the factors that characterised the meteorological trend during 2003 summer in the hills around Pisa and on most of the Tuscan coast, having a quite considerable influence on the ripening and quality of grapes. Consequently the 2003 grape harvest was very early (between 10 and 20 days depending on the age of vineyard, area and soil) and was characterised by very healthy grapes. The production quantity and yield were lower even than 2002, due to smaller berries and therefore smaller juice content. Sugar levels were extremely high and did not always correspond to phenolic maturity, especially for very early varieties such as Merlot. In this case, a torrid heat reduced the concentrations of aromatic components and freshness. The late varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and, in some areas, Sangiovese, achieved a better balance, especially where soils were cooler and leaf walls richer. This was a difficult grape harvest due to uneven ripening, very low acidity and high pH. Overall the wines obtained had closed olfactory sensations but were very rich in colour and body.

2002 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
A relatively cold and dry winter was followed by a spring with modest precipitations and temperatures which were slightly above the seasonal average, creating excellent conditions for the vegetative cycle of plants. 2002 was characterised by a bizarre summer, with no lack of rain and below average temperatures. Then, apart from budding, which occurred at the usual time, all the other phases of the vegetative cycle were about 10 days later, but endured no particular difficulties. An extremely variable September was followed by an irregular October, causing an uneven ripening of grapes. Thinning operations were necessary to bring the different varieties to complete maturity. Fortunately, thanks to a drastic reduction in the quantity of bunches per plant and a meticulous selection of grapes during the harvesting period, we succeeded in obtaining healthy fruits and consequently good phenolic and alcoholic maturity for the varieties cultivated on our estate. To date, having completed malo-lactic fermentations, we can state that Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese wines have excellent perfumes and concentrations.

2001 GRAPE HARVEST in Ghizzano
The first variety to be harvested in Ghizzano once again was the Merlot. On the 30th of August grapes had already completed the ripening process and this resulted, after racking, in a wine rich in body and tannins. Cabernet and Petit Verdot were harvested around the 15th of September. The first sporadic rains in September helped the grapes to recover from the slight water-related stress suffered during the dry period in August. Quantities, as for the previous year, were scarce but the quality was absolutely excellent. After being drawn off, 2001 wines were immediately transferred to new barriques to undergo malo-lactic fermentations and it looks like this resulted on full, very fruit-forward wines. Thanks to grapes perfectly healthy, Sangiovese gave excellent results this year too: from the 25th of September to the 6th of October, in different phases depending on the different ripening stages of various clones on the estate, we succeeded in harvesting our Tuscan grape with natural alcohol contents ranging from 13 to 13.5% by volume. Part of the must is still completing maceration on skins before being transferred to small two-year-old used oak casks.

2000 GRAPE HARVEST in GHIZZANO
General trend: the year 2000 in Ghizzano was characterised by a spring with relatively frequent rainfall, a quite mild start to summer and high temperatures at the beginning of August which continued until the end of September. Grapes then ripened so quickly that Merlot was harvested as early as the end of August. Thanks to an attentive pruning in January and green harvest in July, the production per plant was limited but gave excellent results in terms of polyphenols and sugar. Like every other year, grapes were harvested into small crates to prevent damage and then vinified in stainless steel tanks. With frequent but very brief pumping over, it was possible to gain good extraction of colour and tannins (after 15 days for Sangiovese, 16 days for Merlot and 18 for Cabernet Sauvignon), which enabled us to obtain highly concentrated, elegant, balanced and rounded wines. Musts were vinified separately by cultivar and clone, before undergoing malo-lactic fermentation in barriques, except Sangiovese, which ended its fermentation on stainless steel.

Grape harvesting dates:Merlot: August 24th and 28th. A very high sugar content and low acidity led us to harvest Merlot grapes a few days earlier than in the past, obtaining excellent results. Sangiovese: September 20th-28th. The grape harvest was regular despite being carried out in different stages to respect the diverse ripening times of clones. The limited quantity compared to previous years enabled us to obtain decidedly superior grapes with regard to the quality of polyphenols and sugar content. Cabernet: September 29th-30th. Thanks to a low yield, grapes were perfectly healthy when harvested, with very high sugar maturity.