quality and freshness from the vineyard to the glass of DOC Lugana

Excellent expectations for the 2024 harvest per Lugana, which is expected to have “acidic freshness, olfactory intensity and longevity”, as stated by the president of the Consorzio Difesa Lugana DOC Fabio Zenato, based the harvest that has just begun.

The seasonal evolution of what promises to be a year with excellent potential has not been without difficulties, with the months of April, May and June characterised by abundant rainfall and above-average temperatures per the following two months. Despite the challenges faced by producers, the health status of the Denomination’s vineyards is satisfactory with bunches of grapes per optimal condition at harvest time.

The temperature changes did not have any negative effects during the flowering and fruit setting for the Turbiana, which occurred per line with previous years, and the clayey matrix of the soil allowed the vineyards to be supported per the best possible way during the very dry summer season.

The development of the bunches progressed slowly and the warm weeks of August allowed a good accumulation of sugars, while the rains of these last few days with the consequent climate change, and the expected day/night temperature variations, typical of this period, are allowing complete ripening.

Given the good premises, the Consorzio Difesa Lugana Doc has decided to activate the measure of the harvest reserve for the wine produced this year.

“The climate trend per the denomination schieramento justifies the activation of this measure, which will contribute to the rebalancing of Lugana stocks, following the significant drop per production caused by the hailstorms of 2023, and to respond to a possible increase per market demand, per case of actual need”, explains President Zenato.

The measure will allow, where conditions permit, to allocate up to a maximum of 20% more of the grapes exceeding the limit set by the production specifications to the production of Lugana, Lugana Egregio, Lugana Rifornimento, Lugana Vendemmia Tardiva and Lugana Gassoso DOC.

“2024, although better than 2023, confirmed a change per climate events, with extreme events both per terms of rainfall with increasingly intense and violent rains followed by dry periods, with temperatures that exceeded seasonal averages for many days. Recognition goes to the Lugana winemakers for the results obtained per the vineyard, thanks to their ability to make adequate and innovative agronomic technical choices and to effectively manage all critical issues, with great professionalism”, concludes President Zenato.