A violent storm hurled hailstones the size of ping-pong balls onto crops, orchards and vineyards in northern Italy over the weekend of 23rd August, around and over the cities of Verona and partially Padova causing widespread damage and prompting Veneto authorities to declare a state of “natural emergency”. The downburst devastated the anti-hail nets, uprooting vines with bunches ready for harvest.
There’re 5-6 million euros in damages in Valpolicella on the vineyards of Amarone surrounding Verona. Hail and strong swept the strip that goes from San Pietro Incariano to Negarine and Pedemonte (Verona) leaving behind significant damage in the vineyards from Poiano, in the lower Valpantena to Montorio and Ponte Florio.
According to initial estimates by the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella (Wine Board), the harm caused by the climatic event on Sunday 23 August affects 3-4% of the local vineyards of Corvina Molinara, Rondinella, but the the harvest should be spared.
Reports of damage have reached also Confagricoltura Padova from the strip that goes from Monselice to Conselve, with episodes also in Pernumia, Terrassa and Bovolenta. Michele Barbetta, president of Confagricoltura Padova, reports: “Above all the wind has done some damage to the vineyards and the most affected part is the Monselice area. The bunches of Pinot Grigio, ready for harvest, are more affected than anything else. It is difficult to quantify now how much the damage will be, because it will take a few days to establish the damages with certainty.
In Valpolicella the next days and weeks’ forecast will be decisive. Nevertheless some producers have been seriously affected. The damage naturally extends to neighbouring properties as well, many run by small growers who will have lost almost their entire production and, if they escaped too much damage, will still have repairs to carry out to their vineyards and properties.
