WHEN NORMALITY BECOMES STRANGE

VCOMPANY HARVEST NUMBER 54 – MAURO SIRRI’S HARVEST NUMBER 35

Dear Friends,

When it snows in winter and spring is sweet with fresh and fragrant mornings, sunny afternoons and a few showers that surprise you towards the end of the day when you’re in the vineyard.
When the summer is hot, but with refreshing rain falling at night, bringing relief to people and plants alike.
Such conditions would be normal, but then we would be in heaven without being aware we were there. So, thank goodness for quirky weather, thank goodness for the unexpected that challenges us and enables us to appreciate balance when we are lucky enough to find it.
Having labelled 2014, 2015 and 2017 as extraordinary wine harvests because they were abnormal, 2018 was like a good run, when you enjoy the morning breeze, clear skies and crisp air.
The 2018 harvest marked an important step, with all of our 35 hectares converted to organic production.

I can’t deny I was slightly worried at the beginning, despite having practiced at least 20 years of sustainable vine management, avoiding any use of herbicides and keeping the use of synthetic products to control powdery and downy mildew to a minimum.
From an agronomic viewpoint it is demanding: green pruning, defoliation in the rows with northerly exposure, thinning to ensure healthy plants as necessary.
Thanks also to our collaborators, who have fully adhered to this new company philosophy, we have obtained beautiful and healthy grapes that are good to eat.
Hence, I have to express my full satisfaction for the work done and especially for the result obtained.
The slight water stress experienced at the end of July on the ridges was soon offset by some light rains over mid-August. September was sunny with temperatures dropping considerably during the night, aiding the development of the terpene content and preserving the acidity and fragrance of the fruit.
In the end, finally, after many lean years with very low production, a balanced harvest as regards both quality and quantity.

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE UNEXPECTED!

Mauro Sirri