Italian newspaper La Gazzetta di Bari has reported a slightly early start to the table grape harvest in the region around Mola, just south of Bari in the key producing region of Puglia, south-east Italy.
With many exporters having secured contracts for the first consignments as long ago as March, the timely shipment of Puglia's first volumes is being well received, with almost all of the grapes harvested so far reported to have been already sold.
The quality of this year's production is said to be excellent, despite a handful of adverse weather events during the production period.
Demand for the Black Magic variety, which is understood to be in good supply this season, is reportedly high.
Leading exporter Agricoper, which is based in Noicattaro, also south of Bari, expects to market its first commercial volumes of the Scarlett Royal variety this season, according to company director Nico Liturri.
'We have also seen a steady increase in our production of Princess Seedless, which we see as a very interesting variety and very much one for the future,' he reveals.
Major export destinations for Italian grapes include Germany, Poland and the UK, while smaller volumes are also sold in markets further afield in the Middle East, Asia and North America.
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