From a seasonal climate point of view, the autumn/winter 2006/2007 was characterised by a rather hot and dry weather. A mild spring (with only a rainy March) was followed by a very hot and windy summer, with registered temperatures 2°C higher than the average temperature. The first summer rains of August finally dimmed the oppressive heat, starting a pleasant September characterized by mild temperatures, no rains and optimal day and night temperatures range. Weather didn’t inhibit then the development of vines and grapes, which could be harvested in very healthy conditions.

With such a climate, the harvest could not be other then an early harvest: Chardonnay grapes for  Le Busche were indeed harvested soon after August, the 15th , and from 27th we started to harvest part of Verdicchio, Merlot (for Pelago) and Sangiovese. After September, the 10th, the Verdicchio grapes used for Casal di Serra  production have reached their maturity as well as the Bianchello grapes for Fortunae and Cabernet Sauvignon for Pelago. In mid-September we went on with Montepulciano harvest , starting from the grapes selected for Serrano production, followed by those one for San Lorenzo and finally ending with the more mature grapes for Cumaro and Pelago. In the meantime the grapes of Plenio and Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne were harvested in the Verdicchio area. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo of Jorio and Costamorro was picked up in the same period of Montepulciano from Conero area. Umani Ronchi harvest was officially closed on 13th November with the pick up of the second and final selection of Sauvignon grapes used for Maximo production. We can finally state that 2007 harvest will be surely remembered as the earliest one in our history.

We can surely rate this vintage among the best ones, slightly better the red grapes then the white in terms of quality. The very hot season has indeed hindered Verdicchio varietal to retain its proper freshness and acidity, whereas from the most vocated vineyards we obtained very good grapes, in terms of sugar and acidity balance which let foretell a very good vintage of Casal di Serra, Plenio, Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne and Villa Bianchi. That was on the contrary a very triumphant vintage for the red grapes, in particular for Montepulciano, a grape variety which needs hot temperatures. All red wine from Montepulciano will be particularly thick and depth, powerful and elegant thanks to the good phenological maturation achieved. We can’t help but wait with great expectation for the release of Cumaro, San Lorenzo, Pelago, Serrano, Jorio and Costamorro. But the only jarring note concerns the yield, which recorded a decrease of about 15-20 % over the last year.

Also this year, the healthy grapes notably favoured the wine-making process. We pay then close attention to the temperature control, cooling grapes and must rapidly with the use of new equipment and dry ice to reach a temperature of about 8 °C for a few days. That’s the so called “cold-soak” technique, which also prevents the wine from unwanted oxidation. A second but still important aspect of this year is the slow fermentation occurred at controlled temperature for long period (even one month) with positive effects on the quality grapes.