Brescia Lake Garda 1999 Grape Harvest Outlook and Quality Report
The 1999 grape harvest on the Brescia side of Lake Garda is expected to be quite interesting. Almost all the main wine producers from both the Garda Classico production area and the Lugana DOC have expressed their opinions based on this expectation.
Diego Pasini has had to slightly revise his personal predictions from a few weeks ago, which anticipated a higher yield compared to the previous year. Currently, the grapes are much more visibly mature, and I must admit that the production may turn out to be slightly lower than last season.
Honestly, this can only be positive, as it would prevent the destruction of part of the harvest to stay within the regulations. Lower produce and higher quality of the final product — this is the expert opinion of Giampietro Avanzi, who foresees, in the near future, the start of a new venture as a local beer producer.
Situation of Diseases and Production Quantities
The quality of the produce remains excellent, although some vineyards show signs of attack by the dreaded ladybird known as Flavescenza dorata, a threat that can spread rapidly. This disease is often underestimated by farmers, who sometimes neglect the issue, thereby contributing to its proliferation. The disease inevitably causes the infected plant to die over time.
This situation is confirmed by almost all producers, including those who, despite being affected by hail, can look at the final results with some optimism.
In the Lugana production area, yields remain within the limits set by the new regulation, which caps production at 12.5 tons per hectare for grapes destined for Lugana DOC and Lugana DOC Spumante, and at 11.0 tons for grapes intended for the higher-quality Lugana DOC.
The 1999 harvest, in essence, is naturally self-regulated following the exceptional yields of last year, which forced many producers to remove surplus Trebbiano bunches.
Moreover, this year, the harvest could even be anticipated by about a week in both production zones, considering the already exceptional level of ripeness reached.
Guideline Prices and Results in Competitions
On Wednesday afternoon, at the Camera di Commercio di Brescia, the guideline prices for grapes for the upcoming harvest were established. For Trebbiano Lugana DOC, prices will range between 110,000 and 155,000 lire per quintal, while for the selected higher-quality lots, prices will be between 160,000 and 190,000 lire per quintal.
Prices for grapes destined for white, red, and higher-quality red wines of Garda Classico are set between 90,000 and 120,000 lire, and 90,000 to 125,000 lire for grapes from Groppello and Groppello gentile varieties.
The president of the Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC, Francesco Ghiraldi, and Luigi Fraccaroli, a producer of the Lugana wines appreciated by the Holy See and present throughout 1999 at celebrations marking the 30th career anniversary of the renowned soprano Katia Ricciarelli (Lady Baudo), also commented on the situation.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the excellent results achieved by Garda Brescia DOC wines in national competitions, such as the recent Douja D’Or 1999. Four wineries received awards for Lugana: the 1998 Lugana from Cantine Berardi, the 1996 Lugana from Cantina Marangona, the 1998 Lugana from Cantine della Valtenesi and the Lugana, and the 1997 Lugana from Provenza.
