When a year is great, there is no need to say anything,’ quips Gigliola Giannetti at Le Potazzine. ‘Everything was as it should be.’ Mostly, that is. It should be noted that winter 2018-2019 was typical of the current worrying trend – slightly warmer than the norm, lower-thanaverage rainfall and little snow to speak of. Only estates at high elevations, such as Il Palazzone (up to 540m, with new plantings approaching 600m) and Poggio Antico (averaging about 480m), reported minor flurries. Crucially, temperatures remained sufficiently cool to keep bud break at bay until early April, sparing growers from late-season
