Follador expects ‘great’ vintage in Prosecco

Prosecco producer Follador has said the 2016 vintage in the region is set to be “great”.

A cool start to the year and “significant” diurnal temperature shifts in August created “optimal” conditions for grapes with high acidity and enough sugars to ensure an excellent base for sparkling wines.

Winemaker Francesca Follador, said: “The year 2016 has been very positive; a rather rainy month of July was offset by a hot and muggy August. The combination of these weather events with the peculiar composition of the hilly territory allowed the maturation of particularly rich grapes.

“The freshly pressed grapes show a fresh and fruity bouquet: excellent features that will be further enhanced by the new wine-making system that Follador inaugurated last year, aimed at enhancing the superior characteristics our terroir is known for.”

Follador’s announcement chimes with reports from other parts of Italy, Ornellaia was likewise confident of a “great” vintage in Tuscany for both the reds and whites as it began its harvest this September.

Winemaker Axel Heinz even hinted it was a vintage that could be on a par with the likes of the 2001, 2006 and 2012.