Montalcino Report

Bad Weather in Montalcino

In the last two days, today included, the temperatures in the hours at midday have arisen to roughly +3°/+4° C. (melting in part a little bit of snow) while after the sunset and during the night, they descend again upt to -5° C.

The forecasts, at least here where we are, predict better weather and rising temperatures.

The snow has fallen even on the Orcia river and our Limousine cows and pigs have been covered with snow (they roam freely on our estate). These animals, however, are accustomed to living in areas with cold temperatures.

Weather Report: Heavy Snow Friday and Saturday, Roads Blocked

Today, Monday 13 February, we have returned to work in the cellar and in the office. 

The snowfall of Friday, continued to Saturday morning, has covered the terrain with about 30/40 cm of snow. And in certain points, also cause by the wind, it has created some "snow dunes" as high as 100 cm.

The village of Sant'Angelo in Colle Saturday morning has awaken covered with snow and with great problems of transportation caused by the accumulation of snow and ice.

The workers and the means of the commune were not in the possibility of intervening in all the hamlets and for this reason, the youngest among us have been armed with shovels and we have opened the roads to allow everyone to be able to go out from their houses and move at least to go to the one food store to do the shopping.

The same situation for the internal road that carries from Sant'Angelo in Colle to our cellar and our offices, for which we have outfitted one of our tractors with snow chains and a snow plow and we have cleaned the street of the 30/40 cm of snow that was blocking the transit.

The snow will last in the fields yet for many days, at least if it does not rain and melt it. Otherwise, the sun is unable to melt it because of the low temperatures.

Weather Update: More Snow But We Are Fortunate

After the "beautiful day" of yesterday, this morning we have awoken with very cold temperatures — 3° C. and snow accompanied by strong wind.

This new wave of bad weather that is impacting all of the Tuscany and other parts of Italy originates in the Balkans and had been pre-announced. And the population has been advised not to take any trips except for cases of absolute necessity.

We continue to work in the cellar and in the office, while the works in the fields are stopped because of the cold and the snow. A part from the inconveniences that the snow brings for the problems of traffic and other things, it's important to remember an old farmer's proverb: "under the snow the bread, under the rain the hunger."

This is because the snow would cover the plains seeded with grain and it would protect them while excessive rain would make them die. And what's more is that the snow cleans the plants of fungal diseases, like sooty mold.

In Italy there has been a fall and a beginning of winter with little rainfall, so little that in many cities the water was rationed. With these abundant snowfalls, the earth is filling up with water and even the springs will feel the positive impact of this.

Today, after seeing the television newscasts that showed that which was happening in Italy in the center-south, we must once again consider ourselves fortunate. It is snowing but in acceptable quantities, which helps us without creating damages to things or persons.

Weather in Montalcino Update: Snow Forecast

Today, Thursday 9 February 2012, we have passed from -5° C. of this morning to +7° C. of this afternoon. A part from the snow that is around, it was seeming to be spring.

Good part of the snow has melted but we are worried for tomorrow having seen that the meteorological forecasts place snow on all of the Tuscany. We will see that which will happen.

 

Extreme Winter In Montalcino But We Are Very Lucky

On the day of Friday 3 February it has not snowed.

The minimum temperatures have arrived to -4° C. It seems however that it is even colder because of the strong wind from the north. The bad weather has move toward the Adriatic, Lazio, and the South. Again, this time, we were lucky.

We have closed the works in the fields and we will begin again on Monday if the weather permits it and in the meatime, we will work in the cellar and in the office. If the temperatures do not go down, there will not be problems, for neither the olive trees or the vines. We wouldn't like to have another 1985 where 70% of the olive trees died because of the cold.

In the night of Friday, some millimeters of snow have fallen. Not much but the snow has created traffic problems on the morning of Saturday. Minimum temperatures between -5 and -6° C.

Sunday afternoon the thermometer had arrived at 0° C. thanks to a nice sunny day.

Today, Monday, the thermometer showed -6°: it has not snowed again and the day seemed to promise well inasmuch as the sky was clear and the sole should help to heat and make the temperatures rise again.

But seeing the weather forecasts, the inclement weather is not finished. In this week, it is foreseen yet cold because of the freezing winds from Siberia and perhaps more snow.

Seeing however that which has happened in Umbria, Lazio, and Abruzzo, we were actually very lucky.

2 February Heavy Snow Fall and Cold Wave in Montalcino

2 February 2012 A wave of snow and cold arriving from the Siberia has reached Italy and also Montalcino.

Yesterday morning, when we went outside, 10 centimeters of snow had fallen.

In the afternoon, a pale son had melted the snow fall only in part.

Today, it has begun again to snow but at the moment with little intensity.

The weather alert forecast spoke of heavy snow fall (with snow in other zones) and a lowering of the temperatures to -10/-12° C.

Fortunately for us, the minimum temperatures have not fallen below -4° C.

They had spoke of a cold wave similar to that of 1985, which, here in our area, caused more than 70% of the olive trees to die. But then the temperatures had fallen to -15/-22° C.

Harvest Report 2011: Very Light Rain at Il Poggione On Saturday

Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon it has rained on the Mt. Amiata and surroundings, while only a few millimeters of rain fell on our estate.

Sunday evening, as can be seen in the photo, the weather appeared to promise rain. But none arrived.

Today, as planned, we have re-initiated the harvest of the Sangiovese for the production of Brunello di Montalcino.

The grapes are at the right point of ripeness, with excellent parameters.

Harvest Report 2011: Weather Is Warm But Great Vintage Expected

We are continuing to harvest the Sangiovese for the IGT wines "in slow motion" as the Sangiovese for the Brunello and the Rosso di Montalcino is continuing to ripen on the vine.

The climate is warm with maximum of 29° C. (84° F.) and minimum of 16° C. (61° F.). Apart from the wave of sweltering heat in August, we are always convinced that this will be a great vintage.

Harvest Report 2011: No Rain in Montalcino and the Harvest Continues

Yesterday, 5 September, we have continued the harvest, picking the Sangiovese with which we will make the IGT Toscana.

The seasonal progression is stable. The rain that fell in the North Italy did not arrive in Montalcino and it stopped on Mt. Amiata where it rained yesterday. A rainfall in the vineyards would have surely been useful, but one cannot command the climatic progression and we must take that which comes.

The temperatures of yesterday have been maximum 29.2° C. (84.6° F.) and minimum 19.3° C. (66.7° F.).

As is illustrated in the photos, the solids have been removed from the Vermentino and Sangiovese Rosè (the impurities, the mucilage, pieces of the skins, and other components are removed) and now they are slowly fermenting at low temperature at 12° C. (54° F.).

As is illustrated in the video, we have also begun the racking off of the Merlot, which was the first to be harvested.

Harvest Report 2011: We Have Begun Harvesting Sangiovese for Rosso di Montalcino; Rain Predicted for Next Week

We have begun to harvest the Sangiovese grapes with which we will produce Rosso di Montalcino. The analytic data are excellent and the grapes, aside from a few bunches that were uncovered and struck by the sun and therefore discarded, have a balanced ripening with an excellent alcohol/acidity ratio.

Again today the temperature has registered 31° C. (88° F.) with a low of 18° C. (64° F.). The meteorologic data predict rain for the beginning of the next week which would be surely useful to mitigate the temperature. It would be important that after the rain, the serene weather returned and the inclement weather did not continue.

On 11 August we wrote that the excellent seasonal progression was slowly bringing the grapes to ripeness and pre-announcing an excellent 5-star vintage. We have also writen that as long as the grapes are not in the cellar, it is premature to make predictions because then the climate can reserve ugly surprises for us. We cross the fingers and we continue to work to the best of our ability.