January 2002
2001 Harvest News - Contratto and Dessilani
Gian Carlo Scaglione, the famed enologist at the Contratto estate reports that "The seasonal progress of March and April was rather mild, with May and June characterized by temperatures which were not excessive, constant breezes and very little rainfall, which greatly encouraged the growth of buds and subsequent flowering and, therefore, abundant production. The situation forced us to perform severe green harvesting in August and September which, in some cases was carried out in several stages. The harvest began earlier than usual, providing proof of the quality of the grapes, which were ready for harvesting before the great climatic changes occurred. The first harvested grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot, Moscato) were all excellent. The second harvest grapes (Barbera, Cortese di Gavi, etc.) reached levels of excellence in well-exposed vineyards subject to correctly performed green harvests with some grapes showing an exceptional sugar content. Nebbiolo da Barolo and Barbaresco were every bit as good as the climatic requirements of these grape varieties were met to the full, especially where low yields favored perfect ripening."
Enzio Lucca, the owner of the Dessilani estate says about the 2001 harvest: "Thanks to the...assistance of the agronomists, Curtaz and Romana, and the enologist, Giuseppe Caviola, we had a harvest that was equal to or better than the 2000 harvest (by all accounts one of the best in memory). The characteristics of the harvest were as follows: No rainfall/late harvest/8% higher grade of grape than 2000. In sum, a wonderful harvest with great quality. The quantity of grapes harvested was normal. The alcohol level of the big Nebbiolo wines varies from 12.5 to 14 percent. "
Contratto "Grand Table" Dinners
Called the "Great Tables of the World", Carlo Bocchino of the Contratto estate has launched a series of monthly dinners in his historic cellars, inviting the great chefs of the world to cook and interact with Italian celebrities and the press. The most noted of these chefs is possibly the greatest living chef, Alain Ducasse. Among other notable chefs that have traveled to Canelli to the Contratto cellars are Santi Santamaria from Spain, Emile Jung from France, Aimo and Nadia Moroni from Italy, Ezio Santin, great Italian chef, Nobuyuri Matsuhisa from Nobu of New York, Dieter Muller from Germany, Pierre and Michel Troisgros and Jacques Chibois from France.
