The hailstorm that occurred last weekend in Valpolicella damaged 4-5% of the region's vineyards, causing economic losses of up to 6 million euros.
Image from: Internet
Severe storms hit parts of the Veneto appellation over the weekend of August 22 and 23, with strong winds and hail destroying some vineyards in the area.
A report from the Veneto government website says the Ministry of Agriculture is conducting inspections to assess the damage.
On August 24, Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto Appellation Association, declared a state of emergency in the appellation. Although the storm was relatively small in scope, affecting 400 hectares of the nearly 8,000 hectares of the Valpolicella appellation, the area hit by the hailstorm also suffered extensive damage.
Christian Marchesini, president of the Valpolicella Wine Association, said: "Where hailstorms and windstorms hit, such as in the municipality of San Pietro in Cariano, they caused enormous damage, resulting in crop losses of 70 to 100 percent.
Some of the low-lying vineyards of wine producers such as Pasqua Vigneti and Thomas Winery suffered some damage, but most of their vineyards escaped the hailstorm.
Andrea Lavagnoli, president of the Verona-based branch of the agricultural organization CIA, said that while the economic damage is limited, those affected have suffered severe losses that will affect this year's and next year's grape harvest.
Wine production in this appellation, known for Amarone, is expected to be 7 - 8% lower than last year.
