In this region springtime was rainy followed by a dry summer and an autumn with beautiful weather. All the growers reported a good harvest.

CASTIGLION FALLETTO (Province of Cuneo)
Enrico Scavino owner of Azienda Agricola Paolo Scavino (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Langhe Bianco DOC, Langhe Rosso DOC): “A great vintage……After the springtime rains it was always sunny and especially the Nebbiolo grapes did not suffer from hydric stress….Due to the high temperature and the dry weather the grapes ripened well…We had a perfect harvest, the colour of the grapes and the quality were excellent. I could not have done better if I had a magic wand. …We are very happy. We started picking on the 7th-8th of October and we finished on the 25th of October.”

MONFORTE (Province of Cuneo)
Massimo Conterno assistant to Domenico Clerico owner of Azienda Agricola Domenico Clerico (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Langhe Dolcetto DOC, Langhe Rosso DOC): “…we are very happy with the 2008 vintage. All grapes were flawless, Nebbiolo was super. We started in mid September with Dolcetto then we stopped picking for two weeks and we continued picking from the 7th-8th of October till the 20th of the month. …..We are very satisfied with the quality, all wines have an intense and beautiful colour….” Riccardo Seghesio co-owner of Azienda Agricola Aldo e Riccardo Seghesio (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Langhe Rosso DOC): “…this is a lovely vintage for Barolo. In September and in October the weather was lovely. The grapes were flawless and ripe. …..we started picking on the 20t h of September and finished on the 23r d of October”.

LA MORRA (Province of Cuneo)
Silvia Altare – Azienda Agricola Elio Altare (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Rosso DOC): “a beautiful harvest. At first the forecast was uncertain because of the rain, but then the weather was sunny and dry. The harvest period was “classic” (a bit later than previous vintages that were early). This vintage is comparable to 1996, 2001 and 2004, the wines are fresh and have a good acidity content….We started with Dolcetto on the 20th of September, we picked Nebbiolo and Barbera starting from the 10th of October and we finished around the 25th of October….”

Carlo Revello – Azienda Agricola Fratelli Revello (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC): “…we had a good harvest. We had a beautiful autumn that made it possible to harvest at the right time. We harvested 20 days later than the previous vintages, but this was “normal” as the previous years were early….The forecast for the 2008 wines is good….We started with Dolcetto in mid September, Nebbiolo and Barbera were harvested between the 6t h and the 20t h of October…….”

BAROLO (Province of Cuneo)
Ferruccio Grimaldi owner of Azienda Agricola Giacomo Grimaldi (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC): “The harvest was very good. We expected a very different vintage due to the springtime rains. Then it was warm in June-July and in autumn it was cool at night and warm during the day. The Nebbiolo grapes were fantastic. This is the best vintage since I started in 1996. It was a spectacular harvest, the wines have good aroma and a beautiful colour. Ripening was long and complete, tannins are soft and wines have a good structure. We started with Nebbiolo on the 15t h of October and we finished around the 25t h of the month. We finished picking Dolcetto around the 15t h -20t h of September…”

SERRALUNGA (Province of Cuneo)
Giampaolo Pira of Azienda Agricola Pira Luigi & Figli (Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC): “It was a good harvest. The climate was similar to 2004. The good weather in September and in October favoured the Nebbiolo grapes. The forecast is for an exceptional vintage such as 2004. We started picking Dolcetto on the 18-20t h of September, Nebbiolo on the 15-20t h of October, Barbera on the 25-26t h October…..”

BARBARESCO (Province of Cuneo)
Sergio Minuto owner of Azienda Agricola Moccagatta (Barbaresco DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Langhe Chardonnay DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC):”……In September the weather was marvellous, it was warm during the day and cool at night, the grapes ripened slowly….Phenolic ripening was excellent, colour was good, there was a good percentage of sugar and high acidity content. We waited and we finished picking after mid October…..It was a great harvest!…”

NEIVE (Province of Cuneo):
Andrea Sottimano, owner of Azienda Agricola Sottimano (Barbaresco DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Nebbiolo DOC):”It was by all means a good harvest. …The period during which we picked was “normal”: we started on the 15-20t h of September and we finished on the 20t h of October. The vegetative period of the vines was long, the wines are consequently full-bodied and well structured and the tannins are soft……..”

ROERO (Province of Cuneo):
Luca Rostagno Cellar Master of Azienda Agricola Matteo Correggia (Roero DOC, Roero Arneis DOC, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Langhe Bianco DOC, Langhe Rosso DOC, Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC):”We are very happy about the quality although the grape yield was lower……Harvest was carried out in more phases. ….Harvest was long, although it never rained. The grapes were flawless and beautiful…..The vines had a good balance……acidity in the wines is good, the wines made with Nebbiolo have extremely elegant tannins…..We started picking white varietals on the 15th of September and we finished picking all grapes on the 21st of October…….”

GATTINARA (Province of Vercelli):
Alberto Zoppis – Azienda Agricola Antoniolo (Gattinara DOCG, Coste della Sesia DOC, Erbaluce di Caluso DOC):”In this area springtime was cold and rainy. June was warm, in July only the last week was warm (there were storms that lowered the temperature), the weather was warm during the month of August (apart from a storm on the 15t h), during September it was warm with a lot of light during the day and cool at night, in October the weather was good……This year we picked later that usual (we started on the 10t h of October and finished on the 15t h for Gattinara wines)…Wines have beautiful colours, good aromas and soft tannins…..”

DOGLIANI (Province of Cuneo):
Paolo Boschis – Azienda Agricola Francesco Boschis (Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC, Dogliani DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Langhe Freisa DOC, Piemonte Grignolino DOC, Langhe Bianco DOC):”…The wines are elegant, the yield is slightly lower……The Dolcetto wines are aromatic, with lovely colours…This vintage is similar to 2005. We started picking on the 22n d of September and we finished on the 16-17t h of October. It was a long harvest….Barbera was picked 10 days later than the previous years, acidity content is high, structure is good, good colour……”

DIANO D’ALBA (Province of Cuneo):
Claudio Alario owner of Azienda Agricola Alario (Dolcetto di Diano DOC, Barolo DOCG, Barbera d’Alba DOC, Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC):”Quality of grapes this year is excellent although the yield is lower. We started picking on the 25th of September and we finished on the 25th of October….”