PROVINCE OF TRAPANI: It was rainy in the springtime and very hot in July and August. Giacinta di Serramarrocco – Tenuta di Serramarrocco (Sicilia Rosso IGT, Sicilia Bianco IGT): “The climate of the summer in 2007 made the harvest start quite early. Grape yield was one of the lowest of the last six years (since Marco di Serramarrocco has managed the estate). By carefully selecting the clusters in the vineyard, we managed to obtain very high quality product and grape yield that was 12% lower than 2006…..The vineyards of Contrada Serramarrocco did not suffer from damage by “Peronospora” (downy mildew) and this was due to the altitude (over 400 meters above sea level), the exposure, the soil and micro-climate conditions (it is a particularly windy area)..Harvest went very well for us! We started picking on the 24t h of August and finished on the 4t h of September.”

NORTHERN SLOPES OF THE ETNA VOLCANO (Province of Catania): inter was practically without rain, springtime was very rainy, summer was very hot with “scirocco” wind (a hot wind that blows from south-east from the Sahara desert and from other regions of northern Africa). In September and in October weather was perfect. Marco de Grazia owner of Tenuta delle Terre Nere (Etna Rosso DOC, Etna Bianco DOC, Etna Rosato DOC): “We will have more detailed information on the wines once the malo-lactic fermentation is over. A harvest with an extraordinary quality level especially for the reds. The last lot of white grapes will be brought to the cellar tomorrow (25t h of October). An exceptional vintage. We are now more equipped in the cellar. The harvest was not early, we started a few days later than usual. The whites are more aromatic and maybe slightly less concentrated than last year, the same goes for Rosato…. Calderara gave extraordinary results. This T I W year we will produce a small quantity of wine from the S. Spirito cru (Nerello Mascalese), a new vineyard that we have purchased……..We started on the 4t h of October and will finish on the 25t h of the month….”

ISLAND OF PANTELLERIA: he winter was mild, it rained late (in May), the temperature during the summer was not too high so this was positive for the grapes. 2007 is a good vintage for Passito. Salvatore Ferrandes owner of the homonymous winery (Passito di Pantelleria DOC): “2007 is a photocopy of the previous years. The wines are still fermenting, yesterday I pressed the last lot (23r d of October). The quality of the grapes is good. It is different for Passito in comparison to other types of wine: if it is possible to dry the clusters well it is a good vintage. In fact we tend to harvest as late as possible, and this is to guarantee a good drying process. In the inland areas of the island, were the vineyards are located, the less it rains the better, as the grapes of Zibibbo are richer in sugar and are more resistant to mould. Pantelleria is quite a fertile island, in case there is no rain the vines do not suffer as the subsoil is humid.”