Diffusion
The total area planted with Vermentino in Italy is around 6,000 hectares (UIV 2017). The region where it is most cultivated is Sardinia with about 4500 hectares (UIV and Laore 2017), followed by Tuscany with 653 ha and Liguria 554 ha (UIV 2017).
The table below shows the trend of Vermentino cultivation area in Italy from 1970 to 2017
Italy
|
Area (ha)*
|
Area (ha)
|
1970
|
4.000
|
|
1982
|
3.600
|
|
1990
|
4.000
|
|
2000
|
3.900
|
2.299
|
2010
|
2.297
|
2.927
|
2017
|
6.000
|
6.000
|
*data include Vermentino, Pigato and Favorita
As to Tuscany, the cultivated area increased by one fifth compared to the 544 ha reported by Fregoni et.al 2007, but decreased in the province of Massa Carrara, with the abandonment of marginal vineyards and those located in steep field, while increased along the coast (from Livorno and Grosseto), also following the enhancement project developed on this grape variety (Scalabrelli, 1997; Scalabrelli and Di Collato, 1999, Scalabrelli et al., 2002; Nunziatini et al., 2010).
In Sardinia Vermentino area increased by one third between 3,300 ha in 2009 (Convisar 2011) and the current 4500 ha.
Vermentino is also widespread in the south of France (just over 6000 hectares), located in Provence, Corsica, where it is the most important white variety, and in Languedoc-Roussillon. Vermentino is located in Malta and is present in the Bekaa valley in Lebanon. In California, the US state where it is most cultivated, Vermentino covers a total area of about 90 hectares (California Department of Food and Agriculture). But this grape is also present in other U.S. states, such as Nevada, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia. In Australia, Vermentino area is approximately 120 hectares (wineaustralia.com) and it is present in South Australia, in Victoria, in Hunter Valley, in King Valley, in Barossa Valley.
There are 16 homologated clones in Italy, most of which were recently obtained from the selection of populations present in Sardinia, Tuscany, Liguria and Piedmont. A dozen clones have also been approved in France following the clonal selection made in Corsica (INRA, 2007)
Agronomic characteristics
In Tuscany, Vermentino has an average earliness of developing buds, about 5-7 days before the Trebbiano toscano, which is about in the last week of March along the coastal area, while a delay of about 7-10 days occurs in more internal areas.
It ripens earlier (one to two weeks) than Trebbiano toscano, being in the first week of September along the coastal areas of Tuscany and two or three weeks later in the inland areas.
The grapevine has medium vigour and a sufficient fertility of basal buds that allows it to take a spur pruning. The average weight of the bunch is highly variable depending of biotype and clone.
The forms of farming adopted vary in different areas of cultivation according to the eco-pedologic soil conditions. It goes from, ‘alberello’ in the driest areas (Corsica and Sardinia) to ‘Guyot’, that is undoubtedly the most widespread, and the ‘cordon’, which are both used in almost all areas of cultivation. Finally, the ‘tendone’ is used in irrigated areas of Sardinia, while the ‘high cordon’ is taken in some areas of Sardinia and Tuscany, while the ‘pergola’ is typical of Cinque Terre.
The adopted rootstocks depending on the environments. In Corsica the 110R is widely used, which has yielded good results even along the Tuscan coast (Ferroni et al., 2010), while in most environments the 1103P is mostly used. In Liguria the use of SO4, has yielded good results by maintaining a good level of titratable acidity, which in this variety is very important to maintain, being occasionally subject to an excessive drop in consequence of late vintage.
The Vermentino prefers sunny places and infertile soils. It has good tolerance to salty winds and dry climates, fertile soils and fears damp places where it is more easily attacked by botrytis. It is sensitive to moths and mildew, especially in dense foliage conditions and is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew.