Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/562166
56 WINES&VINES September 2015 GRAPEGROWING G rapevine leaf mottling and deforma- tion are the hallmarks of a new vine disease spreading across grape- growing regions in northeast Italy and Slovenia. The first warning signs came in 2003-04, when symptoms were observed in the vineyards of Piana Rotaliana and Collio. During the next few years, the disease gradu- ally spread to every grapegrowing area in Tren- tino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia—the two regions where it first developed. The disease then spread to neighboring regions such as Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Lombardy. In Veneto, where it was first identi- fied in the DOCG Prosecco area in 2013, it has become a constant presence, having been de- tected in each of the best grapegrowing prov- inces. In Emilia Romagna, there was a high incidence of infected plants in 2013, whereas in Lombardy the disease wasn't detected until 2014. For the time being, the disease has only a sporadic presence in Emilia Romagna and Lombardy, which each have some hotbeds scat- tered throughout the region. A New Disease In Italian Vineyards Pinot Grigio disease causes grapevine leaf mottling and deformation By Elisa Angelini, Irene Bazzo, Nadia Bertazzon, Luisa Filippin and Vally Forte Clockwise from top right: The canes of affected vines are stunted with shorter internodes and smaller leaves; the Glera cultivar displays nerve discoloration on its leaves until the end of the season; leaves show symptoms of deformation and discoloration.