CUSTOZA (District of Sommacampagna – Province of Verona)
MARCELLISE (Province of Verona)
MONZAMBANO (Province of Mantova).

Azienda Agricola Cavalchina (Bianco di Custoza DOC, Bianco di Custoza Superiore DOC, Bardolino DOC, Bardolino Chiaretto DOC, Bardolino Chiaretto DOC) – Azienda Agricola Prendina (Merlot Garda DOC, Alto Mincio Pinot Grigio IGT) – Azienda Agricola Torre d’Orti (Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella Superiore DOC, Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso DOC, Rosso Provincia di Verona IGT): “From November 2015, there was a period of abundant rain combined with mild temperatures. In these conditions there was a vigorous vegetative growth with a lot of bunches of grapes. However, from April onwards the temperatures were below average, almost freezing, with regular precipitations that partially erased the early vegetative growth acquired in the first months of the year. The situation continued until the end of May. The beginning of June was then characterized by a strong variability, with storms and an unusually low temperature for the period. Fortunately, by the end of June, summer had almost settled in with higher temperatures, despite a persistent variability, with storms and occasional rainfalls. A summer-like weather continued, combined with the brief occurence of some African anticyclones and many weather fronts………….The constant attention (in the vineyards) allowed us to keep the grapes healthy and to accomplish a full ripening with a good balance of acids and sugars. The harvest started on the 22nd of August, 5 days later than 2015. The end of August and the beginning of September were characterized by a dry, windy climate which fostered the ripening of the late varieties such as Corvina and Garganega. This summer-like weather carried on throughout the harvest, being interrupted only in mid-September by an atmospheric disturbance, which restored the temperatures to the usual level for the period thanks to a modest rainfall and the consequent solving of the problems related to drought; two other short and mild disturbances occured in the first ten days of October. The 2016 harvest lasted for two months, it ended on the 19th of October and was marked by an outstanding quality by virtue of a great sugar concentration which nonetheless did not damage the acidity. There is a good acidity level, despite the pH being slightly higher than last year. The wines present clear fragrances, an excellent expression of the varietal aspects and balance. Notably for the red wines, the good weather conditions allowed us to harvest at a full phenolic ripening and, as a consequence, the tannins show a good roundness and pleasantness……..”

MONTEFORTE D’ALPONE (Province of Verona): There was more rain than usual in springtime, but this luckily did not cause vine diseases. The temperature during the summer was average (without hot African currents) and there was good rainfall in July and in August. The weather during September was particularly warm and dry and this favoured an optimal ripening of the grapes.

Azienda Agricola Gini (Soave Classico DOC, Recioto di Soave DOCG, Veneto IGT Pinot Nero, Veneto IGT Sauvignon, Monti Lessini Bianco DOC, Spumante VSQ): “……Selection of the grapes to be dried: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella from the 15th of September till the 15th of October. Oseleta on the 29th of October. Garganega: from the 25th till the 28th of October. Harvest of the grapes that were crushed: Trebbiano di Soave on the 17th of September. Pinot Nero on the 20th and 21st of September. Chardonnay on the 22nd and 23rd of September. Sauvignon on the 24th of September. Grape varieties for the production of Valpolicella: from the 15th till the 20th of October. Garganega from the 10th till the 31st of October. All grape varieties had reached good ripening. The grape yield was in general slightly lower than average for all varieties. We carry out organic practices in the vineyards and in the cellar. The musts have a very intense colour and a good acidity, the sugar content is quite high. We produced the whole range of wines. Altough it is still early to evaluate the 2016 wines, judging the health of the grapes and the excellent quality of the musts, we can say that 2016 will be a very good vintage and, as the harvest was later this year, the wines will be very complex. The alcoholic fermentation was carried out with indigenous yeast…”

COSTEGGIOLA-SOAVE (Province of Verona): It was rainy in the springtime, but then it was dry in July and in August.

Gaetano Tamellini owner of Azienda Agricola Tamellini (Soave DOC, Soave Classico DOC, Spumante VSQ): “..the harvest started 4-5 days earlier in comparison to the previous vintages. The grapes were healthy and the quality was good. We started picking on the 7th of September and we finished on the 14th of October. The grape yield was slightly lower. The fermentation of the wines is proceding well. The wines are fruity and they should be very, very good this year. An additional 4 hectares of vineyards are now in production so that our total vineyards extension (in production) is now 30 hectares…..”

NEGRAR (Province of Verona): In 20016 there was practically no springtime: the weather turned from cold to warm. Luckily, afterwards, the weather was good till the harvest.

Antonio Mazzi – Azienda Agricola Mazzi (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC): “……this year the grape yield was lower so that it was not necessary to drop fruit. We started picking on the 22n d of September and we finished on the 15t h of October. The grapes were healthy and with a good sugar content. The Valpolicella wines are similar to the 2015 vintage: they are very fruity, with a lively red colour which is more intense than usual. This year we vinified the wines with two new rotary fermenters. We also substituted a 50 hectolitre Slavonian oak cask with 6 Slavonian oak casks of a capacity of 16 hectolitres each. We made the whole range of wines. The 2016 vintage is very good – excellent. It is also a very good vintage for the grapes that are now being dried……”