Tenute Rubino > Press Area > Announced > An extraordinary harvest in Salento

The harvest 2008  in Salento will be praiseworthy. Luigi Rubino 'The best harvest in the last 10 years'

An extraordinary harvest in the Salento area and grapes superior in quality than the previous vintages according to all winemakers. In the latest years these long-agricultural- tradition lands have produced grapes of outstanding quality especially the indigenous varieties on the way to be highly recognized through-out the national panorama.

The experience and the ability of producers to work raw materials has certainly increased thus improving year by year the quality of wines but for 2008 the key of success is in the climate, particularly mild: rainfalls have concentrated during winter and summer temperature has never been too hot along with regular temperature range. With an increase in quantity, an excellent vintage is about to be celebrated.

'This is the best harvest in the last 10 years- says Luigi Rubino, the young entrepreneur running his family estate-and all the organoleptic parameters registered during the sampling seem to confirm our predictions for 2008'.

A relatively rainy winter and stable weather in summer until the first 10 days of September have permitted  regular ripening of the grapes with small differences for the indigenous varieties that haven’t fully ripened yet like Susumaniello which will be picked at the beginning of October. The brightest expectations of Tenute Rubino are concentrated on this variety.' It has been a cool vintage'- said the winemaker-the temperatures  kept low until June.At that time the grapes were a little late with the color change and the ripening but in August everything turned back to normal. During summer we  gained the same conditions of previous vintages. A weather pattern that resulted into very aromatic red grapes.

Very few rainfalls in spring and a rainless summer have caused plants water stress in some areas in Salento'. Our vineyards - says Rubino - have escaped the influence of these weather conditions thanks to specific viticultural practices and irrigation cycles.

In all four of the family estates the climate has favoured excellent primary aromas that only need to be preserved. The coastal estates of Jaddico and Marmorelle along the Adriatic shore have been assisted by  brackish winds that along with moderate temperature range, mild weather and  sandy soil have yielded excellent sapid and mineral grapes.

Such weather conditions have influenced also the Uggio and Punta Aquila estates, located south – west  in the hinterland, confering lovely aromatic persistence to the wines. The calcareous soil of Jaddico is the reign of Susumaniello, that extraordinary indigenous variety the Rubino’s have enhanced the value of in order to preserve such a distinctive varietal that results into their elegant and scented core wine: Torre Testa.

Great excitement waiting for the harvest of these red grapes which will be picked soon after  Negroamaro at the beginning of October, slightly earlier than usual. A unique vine variety that thanks to its low yield (an average of 50 quintals per Ha) assures excellent quality. The plants of Susumaniello have benefitted from an intense exposure to sun and  constant ventilation and haven’t been affected by any disease. Same conditions for the younger 3-5 year old plants. 'The youngest and the oldest plants have two days difference in ripening. We have thinned out the bunches of the younger plants in order to maximize the quality and keep it up to the standard of our red top-of-the-line wine'.

An exceptional forecast also for the other indigenous red varieties such as Primitivo in the Punta Aquila and Uggio estates picked in the first decade of September producing Visellio, another outstanding wine. On the 15 September Negroamaro, located in  three  different areas, will be picked and will release excellent reds with different characteristics. These vines haven’t been affected by the climate thanks to meticulous agricultural handling. As regards Malvasia Nera, grown in Jaddico, Marmorelle and Uggio estates the harvest will continue until the second half of September. The white grapes of Chardonnay which have been picked in August have thick and sound bunches, the grapes have reached perfect ripening preserving good acidity and freshness.

The Malvasia Bianca harvest is over as well and has registered an increase in quantity and good balance between  grapes and leaves developing lower alcohols than the previous vintage. An extraordinary result for quality–wine producers in Apulia. The market is supposed to confirm the positive trend and increased experience of the Apulian wineries that have to maintain hands-on involvement relying on  marketing, management and communication as well.

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