"We are nearly two thirds of the way through the Italia grape campaign, which is a key 
moment after the marketing of July and August. We have successfully passed the varietal changeover period between late August and early September; we now need supply and demand to match up, so as to create volume and added value." This was the comment of Massimiliano Del Core (photo on the side), president of the Italian Board Grapes Commission.
"The crops are in excellent condition, with a product of extremely high quality and great organoleptic characteristics, such as color, flavor and Brix, which are highly demanded by Italian and foreign consumers. The production is exceptional, thanks above all to the favorable weather over the past few months. In the last few days intense rainfalls have been recorded in Basilicata and Apulia, which have not, however, compromised the quality of the grapes."
"The varieties that are currently being harvested and processed, in addition to the Italia and Red Globe, which are the core business for many farms in Apulia, Basilicata and Sicily, are the Palieri, which is now in its final phase, and the seedless grapes, of which there are several different varieties."
"The next few weeks will be crucial. The production must be able to meet the needs of the large-scale retail trade and retailers. We will be able to do this thanks to the professional ability to understand the needs of the various customers, to the quality of the production and to the innovations that many companies have decided to adopt in recent years."
"For the moment, prices are flat, in line with the other years, if not slightly lower in some specific cases and for some varieties. This is a case in which the quality of the grapes, the expertise of the operators, as well as their hard work, are not rewarded. We certainly expected more realistic quotations, given also the production and packaging costs, which are higher than in other campaigns, due to both the health emergency and the slightly lower yields recorded for some cultivars."