Tag: Viticulture

Flavescenza dorata is wreaking havoc in many vineyards in Italy again. Even though climate change is not the only reason behind the return of this disease, the change in climate is affecting us all more and more leading to tropical-like weather with severe heat waves, drought followed by torrential rains, vine diseases, and much more. The “rules of winemaking” are changing, vineyards are being planted at high altitudes and in northern countries, and the European Union now allows the use of hybrid grapes to come to terms with climate change. (See the article Meet Four Women at the Forefront of… read more

There is a buzz in the vineyard figuratively as well as literally at Fattoria di Montemaggio. Well, not in the vineyard only but all over the estate. We have recently become beekeepers by setting up a beehive. This is not only making wonders for biodiversity and the ecosystem but we also hope to soon be able to produce honey to share with you all. But how and why are bees so important for the ecosystem at large? Let us dig a bit deeper into the fascinating world of bees. What is the Role of Bees? The keeping of honeybees promotes… read more

Spring is not only longer and warmer days and reawakening of nature, but the weather can also be unpredictable with frost damages in France and Italy last week. After an Easter week with wonderful weather, the night temperatures suddenly went decisively below zero resulting in frost damages in many vineyards. Why is Frost so Harmful to the Vines? During spring when the growing season is in its initial stage with bud breaking, the buds are specifically sensitive to colder weather. The frost can damage buds that are in the opening stage and the young shoots on the vines. It is… read more

Climate change is on everyone’s lips right now. Every day we can read or hear in the news how the climate conditions globally are changing and degenerating rapidly. All over the world, we need to work together and focus the resources on finding viable solutions. The work of the G20 group will indeed be very important for future measures regarding climate change. All the leading nations need to start doing their part. In this article, we will first take a step back in history to then continue to look closer at the effects of climate change on viticulture. A Step… read more