Bob,
you are very correct the wind plays a big role ,my figs survive the winter here with no damage,
but i do cover them,my Gentile that is a breba only in my area is full of figs walnut side already.
My garage is made of concrete blocks ,anyway still looking for a cold hardy fig for my area 6a so they
say.I WAS Able to have 4 different figs survive outiside planted on the ground,I only covered them with
a 55 gallon drum only,i did drill two holes in the sides so they would not mold on me.Ciao,
Giuseppe

Giuseppe, you cover them in your garage? I am in central nj . I store my figs in a similar set up. I have a big detached concrete garage. It has old single Payne windows. Some of my figs didn't fair well thus year. Mostly larger trees most small trees did fine.

Thanks for the interesting information.

I remember my "unknown Negretta" source,use to name it "picolla negretta" or "valle calda".So...if Valle Calda is same one with Valle Negra.....

This is a very interesting story for me.  I had a similar experience as I was driving through Italy decided to stop in Bolzano same latitude as Breno but closer to Switzerland.  There I saw this huge 30' fig tree loaded with these delicious looking large black figs, thin skin, amber interior and very sweet.
Bolzano is located in the dolomite mountains.  The dolomite mountains very near to the alps which are snow covered all year.
January averages for Bolzano are -5.1C(23F) to 5C(41F) in Niagara area I think Jan average minimum is -7C (19F) this is similar to Bolzano but I doubt that the dolomites get the occasional bouts of -20'sC (-2F) that we get.  My guess is the alps protect the area for anything colder than 0F (-18C).

The Italian tourism in the US does have some general information on the weather and terrain.  This link shows the major Italian city average temperatures  http://www.italiantourism.com/geninfo2.html

Here some photos of the Bolzano fig;





Bolzano is the large fig on the left;



 


 

Sondrio is at the foothills of the Alps, close to Switzerland and not too far from Brescia , 300 m above sea level

climate / average temperatures
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stazione_meteorologica_di_Sondrio