2023 COLLECTION
January
The first day of the year is relatively warm. A minimum temperature of 4.8°C and a maximum of 14.1°C, with humidity very high at around 96%. Fifteen days of rain throughout the month ensure a good water supply, and only a sudden drop to -2°C on the 20th brings us back to the typical temperatures of this period.
February
A dry month, with average temperatures between 0°C and 11°C. We are in the middle of the pruning season, and the dry days are favorable for the work. The sun begins to rise gently, with sunrise at 7:47 AM and sunset at 5:25 PM, for a total of 9 hours and 39 minutes of daylight. As is hoped for in this period, once pruning is complete we look forward to a generous spell of rain typical of the month. A reminder: on February 20 we move from Aquarius to Pisces.
March
As we hoped, rainy days increase to thirteen. The soil becomes charged with vitality, and wild herbs begin to regain strength. From March 21 we enter Aries, but even before that, with the arrival of the full moon on March 7, everything changes. A change of course is necessary, as in some parts of the vineyard conditions for root asphyxia are starting to appear.
April
The law of persistence makes itself felt with as many as 19 days of rain and 65 mm of water falling from the sky. By the end of the month we exceed 14 hours of daylight, which, combined with the rainfall, begins to hint at a potentially critical situation for the vineyard.
May
Twenty-three days of rain paired with temperatures around 16°C are far from ideal for this period. The MEGIXTONE vineyard is left untreated, so its innate strength is all it can rely on. After all, uncompromising quality means taking every possible risk.
June
The downy mildew attack is violent—perhaps the strongest in the last fifty years. During fruit set, the climate was far from favorable: too humid for a healthy, problem-free flowering.
July
By now, the problems linked to downy mildew are widespread across much of central Italy and beyond. Production is at risk due to the almost non-existent quantities expected, and the desired fruit variety will be hard to obtain.
August
It is now clear that this will be the lowest yield we have ever had. The quality of the light this month will be decisive in determining whether the fruit will be suitable for MEGIXTONE. Only six days of rain this month and temperatures ranging from 12°C to 37°C ensure excellent temperature fluctuations.
September
We are experiencing one of the toughest harvests ever. The very few grapes brought to the winery are truly sacred—a real gift from nature.
October
The difficulties continue. It feels as though everything is putting us to the test. My goal remains the same: to give my absolute best. This time, however, we will inevitably have to accept truly negligible quantities. If all goes well, with what remains, I might manage to produce perhaps just a few dozen bottles. Many might think, “But you could just buy grapes elsewhere.” I tell you that it is not possible, and it makes no sense. I would not find grapes like these even if I traveled the globe.
November
Here we are. Another twelve days of rain confirm that this has truly been an exceptionally wet year. No one in living memory recalls anything like it in the last fifty years. Surely, the root system will have strengthened significantly. Everything has a purpose.
Let’s prepare to rest. The earth needs it too.
December
Calm and silence reign supreme. Reflection runs deep on what was lost and on how much we have learned. I would say the balance is very positive, even if appearances might suggest otherwise to many.
With 8 hours and 38 minutes of daylight, the year closes, taking away all doubts about what truly matters. Doing your absolute best is the only way to achieve the best, even when that means achieving the least in absolute terms.