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Vintage Reports - Amyndeon, Greece
Vintage Report 2011
AMYNDEON, GREECE
The latest predictions from updated data concerning the 2011 vintage is that, despite the initial estimates of a late harvest, the delay will not be important.
The estimated lateness was based on the fact that the first months of the growing period were relatively cool and the beginning of vine growth cycle was characterized by a significant delay compared to the normal. By late June, the expected lateness was presumed to be at least two weeks.
However, after 50 days without any rainfall, combined with ideal temperature and sunshine conditions, without weather extremes, berry development was accelerated. This led to progressive and complete ripening and grapes achieved high levels of maturity.
Thanks to the light soil texture and the weather conditions after June, soil water was quickly depleted, restraining vegetative growth, and contributed to the appearance of a mild water deficit early after berry set.
Possible millerandage (failure of some grapes in a normal bunch to fully ripen) and increased yield in some varieties were controlled by green harvesting at the appropriate time (véraison - the onset of ripening).
The sanitary condition of the grapes will be excellent provided that protective cultural practices and treatments were applied in time during May and mid-June when rainfall was higher by comparison to the average for that period.
The first samples that arrived at the winery, showed that aromatic and phenolic ripening reached the same levels as the 2008 vintage.
For the white varieties the harvest began in the early days of September.
Angelos Iatridis
(Winemaker – Alpha Estate)
