Producers are extremely satisfied with the harvest and forecast for 2006 wines is excellent. “….results were good inland in Tuscany due to the warm weather during the last three weeks of September and the first weeks of October. Results were much better than expected as the weather during the first two weeks of August was bad….”(Federico Staderini, oenologist of Fattoria di Lucignano and consultant for many estates in Tuscany)

San Pancrazio (Chianti Colli Fiorentini) “….we are very happy…….Weather was wonderful with temperature range, therefore grapes were rich in sugar, polyphenol ripening was good. Grape yield was 5% lower than 2005 and this determined an excellent quality. …..There was no hydric stress for the vines…. (Riccardo Galli agronomist-oenologist of Fattoria di Lucignano)

Gaiole in Chianti (Chianti Classico) “…..beautiful harvest. We carried out a lot of green harvest. In August the weather was not very good, but by reducing the yield per vine (one cluster per plant) there were no problems also thanks to the wonderful weather in September and in October. …. Clusters were perfectly ripe, good alcohol percentage, very good product…We started picking on the 3-4 October and we finished on the 12th of October. This vintage is similar to 2001…”(Valentina Podere Il Palazzino)

Murlo – Siena (Chianti Colli Senesi) “….it was very warm in June and at the beginning of July. It was cool from mid till the end of July. At the beginning of August there was the right amount of rain after which the weather got very warm. At harvest clusters were perfect, with high potential alcohol percentage. Fermentation was even…..2006 harvest is one of the best, comparable to 2001, 1999. Cool nights in September favoured the aromatics. Well balanced vintage…..” (Ranuccio Neri of Azienda Agricola Campriano)

Montalcino “………the 2006 vintage will enter with flying colours in the history of Brunello and of the other wines of Montalcino. It is possible to state that 2006 will be counted among the best of the territory…..” (Bulletin of Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino)

Castelnuovo dell’Abate (Montalcino) “…..excellent vintage. The wines have a good alcohol percentage, are well- balanced and suitable for long ageing. They are very fresh, pleasant, with red fruit notes (15 days of cooler weather favoured aromas). Colour is very intense, good balance. We started the harvest on 22-23 September and finished on the 30 September” (Andrea Cortonesi owner of Azienda Agricola Uccelliera)

Castelnuovo dell’Abate, loc. Molinello (Montalcino) “…..exceptional harvest, we passed through the vineyards three times in order to select the clusters…..Forecast: it is a vintage to be remembered, even the lees were aromatic…..We never had problems during harvest, just some light rains that did not create problems. We started on the 7th of September and finished on the 28th….” (Paolo Bianchini owner of Azienda Agricola Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona)

S. Gimignano (Vernaccia di S. Gimignano, Chianti Colli Senesi) “……very good harvest. 2006 is an exceptional vintage. Clusters are flawless. There was not much rain, but it was enough, there was no hydric stress for the vines. The quality of Vernaccia and of the red wines is extremely good…We started picking Vernaccia on the 10th of September, the red varietals on the 20th. We finished on the first week of September……” (Franco Troiani owner of Azienda Agricola Fontaleoni)

Carmignano (Carmignano) “…June and July were very hot, balanced by a fresh August without heavy rain. In September the temperature rose. A heavy rain (about 20.5 mms) balanced the situation and the varietals that ripen later (Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Cabernet) could complete phenolic ripening and obtain an excellent potential. …..Wines are well-balanced and potentially suitable for long ageing. Forecast: well structured wines, with a lot of colour, good acidity, ripe and soft tannins. ….We started picking Merlot on the 12th of September, continued with Sangiovese and finished with Cabernet on the 9th of October….” (Beppe Rigoli owner of Fattoria Ambra)

Montepulciano (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano) “….2006 is a great vintage, the grapes had an excellent phenolic ripening, good acidity and alcohol percentage. As it was warm during the day and cool at night, vegetative quality was extremely good. Clusters were perfect. This area was spared from rain…” (Chiara of Azienda Agricola Dei)

Empoli (Chianti) “…excellent vintage, one of the best of the later years. We had no rain during the harvest. Good alcohol percentage and intense colours. Ripening of clusters was even. …..The harvest lasted one month from the 19th of September till the 19th of October….” (Rolando Bettarini of Fattoria di Piazzano) Tuscan Maremma “…beautiful vintage. Incredible whites: perfect acidity, pH, alcohol percentage, aromas…A very rare vintage. Red wines: super vintage, the characters of each varietal are very well defined. Excellent colours also for Sangiovese (unusually intense even on 40 year old clones). Ripening of clusters was slow and therefore complete. We had a cold winter, a cool summer till July, a cool August. September and October were warm. We started picking on the 28th of August and we finished on the 12th of October” (Francesco Falciani of Azienda Agricola I Campetti).