In the search for Extreme Quality, Donnafugata experimented with nocturnal harvesting in August 1998. It was a choice linked to focused viticulture and precision enology that was adopted because of the following considerations.
1.Chardonnay is the first variety to ripen in Sicily—in the early days of August. During the day, the temperature often exceeds 35°C (95°F), increasing the risk that undesirable fermentation of the grapes will begin during transportation of the fruit from the vineyard to the winery. The aromas can also volatilize during the pressing of the grapes. At night, however, the temperature drops to 16-18°C (61-64°F), providing ideal conditions for transporting to the winery grapes with sensory potential that is absolutely intact, the best premise for elegant, complex wines ready to begin long lives.
2.At Donnafugata, the white grapes are pressed at a temperature of about 10°C...>>
