The course of 2020 in the vineyard

2020 once again demanded a great deal of commitment and hard work from South Tyrolean winegrowers in the vineyards. The winter months were warmer than average, especially from mid-February onwards, with very mild maximum daily temperatures. After a cool and rainy start to spring in March, April and May were also warmer than average. However, a cold spell at the end of March required targeted frost protection measures in some locations.

Bud break in 2020 occurred later than the ten-year average. However, the high temperatures in April and May favored the development of the vines, resulting in remarkably early flowering in the early-ripening locations as early as May 10. The periods of bad weather in May and June led to a high risk of fungal diseases in the vines in some vineyards. "However, the winegrowers, together with the advisory services, were able to cope well with the situation thanks to considerable efforts," says Hansjörg Hafner, head of viticulture at the South Tyrolean Advisory Service for Fruit and Wine Growing. June saw consistently balanced temperatures. Rainfall, sometimes accompanied by heavy thunderstorms, fell mainly in the first half of the month. July was warm and summery, with a brief heatwave. The 2020 harvest Late summer and autumn saw repeated periods of heavy rain, turning the harvest into something of a lottery, reports Hansjörg Hafner: "Rarely has the harvest of healthy grapes been so dependent on precise timing as in 2020." "However, the reduced target yields set by the South Tyrol Wine Consortium helped to achieve the quality targets in 2020," Hansjörg Hafner is convinced. Winegrowers and cellar masters can be satisfied with the harvest. The sugar levels in 2020 are on average 1°KMW lower than in recent years, while the total acidity levels are average for the years. Due to the lower sugar levels, the alcohol levels are also slightly lower. "This is certainly not a disadvantage for white wines, which are slightly less dense but more accessible and fresher," says Hansjörg Hafner.

For white wines, 2020 is an average vintage with very nice Chardonnay and Ruländer. Cellar masters are very satisfied with Pinot Noir and Lagrein. Merlot and especially Cabernet had to be harvested a little earlier than planned due to weather conditions – with good, but not surprising, qualities. The 2020 Vernatsch is somewhat leaner than in previous years. The 2020 harvest yields are around five percent lower than last year in the lower-lying areas and around ten percent lower in the higher-lying areas. The harvest targets set by the South Tyrol Wine Consortium due to the Covid-19 crisis were almost universally met.