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Vintage 2000
| Germination: |
21 March slightly earlier than 1999 |
| Flowering: |
beginning June normal development |
| Setting: |
beginning June slightly earlier than 1999 |
| Onset of ripening: |
beginning mid-July earlier than 1999 |
| Grape-picking: |
from 20 September 8-10 days earlier than 199 |
| Rainfall: |
below average alternating with dry periods |
An excellent harvest, wine-growers enthusiastic, grape prices above average. This is a brief summary of the vintage and harvest in the Valpolicella area. The eyes of wine-growers light up looking at the grapes already picked and those still in the vineyard and their enthusiasm is exceptionally high.
A winter with limited rainfall and a warm, sunny spring favoured early flowering. Then there was less rainfall than the seasonal average, but falling fortunately just at the moment of the greatest lack of water for the vines. This led to the beginning of grape-picking being anticipated by ten days and the grapes were good and healthy.
The well-balanced thermal range between day and night allowed the ripening of superb grapes.
The quantities produced were smaller than in 1999 by between 10 and 20% per hectare, but the total quantity was maintained thanks to new vineyards and to replanted vineyards, above all in the hills. For grapes destined for withering, namely Valpolicella Amarone and Recioto, the timing was particularly good and it is therefore expected to reach a record quantity of grapes laid out to rest, which will be between 100 and 120,000 quintals.
The grapes have few pips, resistant skin and two degrees sugar more than the average. It is thus expected, once the period of withering is terminated, to anticipate pressing of the grapes laid to rest, in order to obtain a "five star" Valpolicella Amarone, undoubtedly great and memorable. The only negative note in a picture which was otherwise so positive, was the hailstorm of 28 June which hit Negrar and the area around Verona, causing considerable damage to vines over an area of 400 hectares out of the 5000 hectares overall.
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