Vintage 2020

An Average to Good Vintage for the White Wines, Top Qualities for Lagrein and Pinot Noir

For Alto Adige’s winegrowers, 2020 had a few surprises in store. Above all else, the weather conditions around the maturing of the grapes caused the winegrowers no lack of headaches regarding the determination of the best harvest date. In spite of all of this, the Alto Adige wine industry is satisfied with the results of the 2020 harvest: a vintage for white wines that is good on average, and a very good one for Lagrein and Pinot Noir.

The Course of the Year 2020 in the Vineyard

The winter months were warmer than average, especially starting from mid-February, with very mild daily high temperatures. After a cool and rainy start to the spring in March, the months of April and May were likewise warmer than average. However, a cold spell at the end of March required targeted frost protection measures in some locations. The sprouting of the buds in 2020 was later than the ten-year average. However, the high temperatures in April and May were then favorable for the development of the vines, already resulting in a remarkably early blossoming in the early-ripening areas as early as around May 10. The bad weather phases in May and June led to high infection pressure for fungal diseases in the vines in some vineyards. June showed a balanced temperature pattern throughout. Precipitation, sometimes in the form of heavy thunderstorms, fell mainly in the first half of the month. July was typically warm for the middle of summer with a short-lived heat wave.

The 2020 Harvest

In late summer and autumn, there were repeated periods of heavy rainfall, making the harvest something of a roll of the dice in some cases. The harvest of healthy grapes has rarely been as dependent on a precise picking time as in 2020. Winegrowers and winemakers can be satisfied with the harvest. The sugar values in 2020 are on average around 1° lower than in recent years.

Among the white wines, 2020 presents itself as a good vintage on average with very nice Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. The winemakers are very satisfied with the Pinot Noir and Lagrein. The Merlot and especially the Cabernet had to be harvested somewhat earlier than planned because of the weather conditions – with good but not surprisingly good qualities. The 2020 Schiava (Vernatsch) comes through as somewhat leaner than in previous years.

© Consorzio Alto Adige Wines