1993 Italy

Some very good wines were produced in Piedmont this year despite the heavy rains that fell during the harvest. Spring was early and warm and was followed by a dull July and then a baking hot August. The torrential rains that fell in October dented growers' hopes for a great vintage. However, the colour is deeper and the fruit richer than in 1982 and some excellent wines were produced in Barolo and Barbaresco.

In Tuscany the vintage produced some inviting wines, although rains at harvest time meant that some dilute and rot-affected wines were produced as well. Zones such as Montalcino, where they harvested earlier, managed to avoid most of the rains. Other districts were less fortunate, although quality seems better than in 1992.