Image: VOLKER Weihbold
Because of the heat wave of the summer months and a lack of seasonal workers, the winegrowers fear the worst harvest in the last 40 years, reported the Roman daily “La Repubblica” (Tuesday edition). Between 3,000 and 5,000 grape pickers are needed, but wine producers are struggling to find workers.
The lack of employees could have a negative impact on the quality and quantity of Prosecco produced this year, the winemakers warn. Without the necessary number of seasonal workers, there is a real risk that the grapes will be left hanging longer than necessary, which could affect the final production.
The reasons for the labor shortage can be traced back to several factors. “Fewer and fewer people want to work in the fields,” complained Innocente Nardi, owner of the Prosecco producer “La Farra” and ex-president of the consortium of Prosecco producers. Working in the vineyard requires long hours in the sun and significant physical exertion, which deters many potential workers.
Search for alternative solutions
To counteract this situation, some wineries have tried to find alternative solutions, such as the use of automatic harvesters. Finding workers abroad does not appear to be sufficient to fill the gap created by the lack of local seasonal workers. Despite higher immigration quotas approved by the government in Rome, it is still difficult to find workers for the fields.
The lack of staff in the Prosecco area is an urgent problem, said Nardi. Local authorities and wineries are working together to find effective solutions and avoid jeopardizing the production of one of Italy’s most famous wines.
658,000 hectares of vineyards are cultivated in Italy. The wine sector employs 1.3 million people in the country and generates an annual turnover of 11 billion euros. 332 DOC wines with guaranteed origin are produced in the country. This makes Italy the world’s largest wine producer, ahead of France. Prosecco is an export hit for Italy.
Source: Nachrichten
