A slight drop in production and a long growing season show promise for the 2019 vintage in anticipation of the Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening Events
November 26, 2019 (New York, NY) – The Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani, the association representing almost 500 wineries in Piedmont, Italy, is pleased to release the 2019 Barolo & Barbaresco harvest report. Unlike 2018, which was particularly precocious, 2019 has demonstrated to be a classic vintage, showing signs of good structure, ideal balance, and excellent aging ability. This news comes in anticipation of the Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening event in New York City, February 4th and 5th, 2020, where an array of vintages currently available on the market will be poured for press, trade, and consumers.
The growth year started slowly for Barolo & Barbaresco due to winter weather conditions pushing through February, followed by a period of rain and low temperatures until the middle of March. April brought continued wet conditions with more moderate temperatures and the opportunity for water to accumulate in the soil. Due to this water accumulation and a spike in temperatures during June, rapid plant growth occurred at the beginning of Summer. As a result, vineyard managers were required to pay close attention to protecting the plant from potential health issues. The hottest period in the season was recorded between the last week in June and the first in July, followed by days on which milder temperatures alternated with rain. A second heat wave was recorded at the end of July, ending in intense storms that did not damage the vines; the remainder of the summer season was marked by a mild climate, with regular, sporadic rainfall.
September began with a hailstorm that caused substantial damage in two localized areas on the hills around Alba, missing most of the Barolo & Barbaresco region. Harvest commenced for Nebbiolo during the second half of October and exhibited fruit with good sugar levels and a superb polyphenol profile. The wines can be expected to have brilliant color, excellent structure, and age ability. Overall, 2019 is a traditional vintage with high-quality production despite a slight drop in quantity in comparison to 2018.
“The 2019 harvest hasn’t been abundant, but the quality of grapes is well above average,” confirmed the Consorzio’s technical office, “As a result, we can expect great wines with distinctive character.”
On February 4th, 2020, Barolo & Barbaresco will be exhibited to the U.S. market on a scale never seen before from this region in a combined effort of 200 producers pouring their wines at a Grand Tasting. The event will focus on increasing the awareness of the numerous MeGA (Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive), the term used to indicate single vineyard bottlings, and the unique expression of each growth area in relationship to its specific locality and microclimate. During the tasting, educational seminars hosted by the famed Italian Cartographer, Alessandro Masnaghetti, will accentuate how the difference in vineyard location can affect the wines.
The Grand Tasting will be followed by the World’s Best Palates’ Tasting on Feb 5th, 2020, where Masters of Wine, top critics, and sommeliers from around the world will come to New York to evaluate the 2016 Barolo and 2017 Barbaresco wines. The resulting scores of the tasting will be unveiled later that evening during an exclusive Gala Dinner, where guests will be serenaded by the sounds, tastes, and culture of Italy.
List of participating producers can be found here.
About the Consorzio Di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe E Dogliani
Founded in 1934 and representing 492 wine producers across multiple appellations, the Consortium is committed to the management, protection, and promotion of the Langhe, Alba, and Dogliani wine denomination. The Consortium ensures high quality by a set of formal production guidelines for the entire winemaking process, from agronomy to market surveillance. The Consortium continues to perform periodic sampling of wine products on the market to prevent fraud and to protect the wines’ authentication and reputation. Barolo & Barbaresco are registered trademarks in many countries throughout the world.
