The scorching 2011 summer has prompted heat wave warnings, but the warm weather has done great things for the coming grape harvest. Hot days and cool nights have brought in an early crop and some vintners in the north have already begun collecting their white wine grapes.
Farmer’s organizations have predicted that if the current weather holds the yield will be large enough to maintain Italy’s position as the largest wine producer in the world.
The extra wine should go to good use. Though domestic consumption has fallen, wine exports are up 14% over the same period last year.
The large wine crop will have an important economic impact. The harvest will employ 1.2 million people in the vineyards, cellars and stores. Italy’s wine industry is valued at around 13.5 billion euro.
