ITALY: 2006 wine harvest set to rise

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 21 July 2006

This year's Italian wine harvest is forecast to be up on 2005, according to a recent report.

The Italian Wine Union (UIV), along with the Italian agricultural research agency ISMEA, said yesterday (20 July) that the 2006 harvest was projected to result in 53m hectolitres of wine, a 6% increase on last year's 50.5m litres.

In quality terms, the 2006 harvest is expected to be good, thanks to a favourable climate so far. Hailstorms in June are not thought to have had a negative effect on the vines, the union said.

Producers in the country are conscious, however, of the risk posed for production levels by drought conditions in Italy this summer.

Sectors: Wine