Harvest 2023: A Difficult Year for Organic Winemaking at Palazzo Centofanti

Some vintages leave a lasting mark. The 2023 harvest is one we’ll never forget.

For us at Palazzo Centofanti, as for many other Italian wineries, it was one of the toughest seasons we’ve ever faced. A fierce and relentless outbreak of downy mildew, fueled by an unusually wet and unpredictable spring, devastated our vineyards and threatened to undo months of hard work and hope.

A loss like no other. A heartbreak.

Our commitment to organic farming isn’t just a trend or a label. It’s a deeply rooted philosophy. It means saying no to synthetic chemicals and choosing more delicate, natural solutions. But in a year like 2023, this choice made us especially vulnerable. In some areas, we lost up to 90% of our crop.

It wasn’t just a financial blow. It was a hit to the heart.

Every lost grape tells the story of long days under the sun, of careful tending, and of dreams cut short far too soon.

Palazzo Centofanti wines

Downy mildew, the silent enemy that can devastate a vineyard

Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is a ruthless fungus, feared by every grower. It thrives in humid, mild conditions — exactly what the spring of 2023 delivered in abundance. It attacks leaves, shoots, and grape clusters, disrupting photosynthesis, causing leaves to fall prematurely, and often leading to irreversible grape rot.

For organic farmers like us, the tools are limited. We rely on copper- and sulfur-based treatments, along with precise vineyard management. But when nature turns against you, sometimes even the best care isn’t enough.

Staying true to who we are

Despite the heartbreak and exhaustion, we never considered giving up on organic.

In 2023, our vines suffered. And so did we. But we’ve learned to move at nature’s pace, accepting that every vintage carries a lesson, even when the cost is high.

Because at Palazzo Centofanti, organic isn’t just a method. It’s our way of caring for the future.

Our organic philosophy

A glimmer of hope in 2024

The 2024 season brought some relief. Losses were smaller, around 30%, a sign that our vineyards — and we — were slowly beginning to breathe again.

We observed, waited, and cared for the land with patience, without forcing it.

Looking ahead to the 2025 harvest

Less than two months remain until the 2025 harvest, and for the first time in a while, things are looking up. The weather has been kinder, and the vines are speaking to us again, this time with a voice full of promise.

We’re ready to begin again, with hearts full of passion. Because every harvest, whether joyful or difficult, is a chapter in our story — one written with the love of those who make wine with their soul.

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At Palazzo Centofanti, we’re here. And we’re ready to write the next chapter.