Harvest 2024 in Spain: rain brings both respite and complications after years of drought
Although we had a few hot weeks in August, this year was a lot more manageable heat-wise than previous years, allowing us to enjoy our garden outside Madrid rather than shelter indoors with the blinds down. As for rainfall, our garden was also much greener, with data from the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET showing the average rainfall to 17 September 24 across Spain was 4% up on the normal levels at 640mm.
Although some eastern areas continue to be affected by drought, across much of Spain, vine growers have been very grateful for the much needed rainfall and some cooler temperatures which are reflected in a later start to the Spanish grape harvest this year.
Now, in early October, although picking has finished in Europe’s first region to harvest grapes – Montilla-Moriles – many regions in the north such as Rioja and Ribera del Duero have only just started harvesting, as spring rains and less extreme temperatures meant that the growth cycle was more in line with historic dates. In Cava, for example, 76 million kg had been harvested by the 9th September, compared to 100 million kilos last year.
In Rueda, where heat was less intense than in previous years, the harvest of Sauvignon Blanc grapes commenced on the 23rd August, with Verdejo starting to be picked around a week later. In Rioja, the harvest also commenced around the same dates, with some parcels of Tempranillo Blanco picked on the 21st August in the Rioja Oriental sub-region. Harvesting in the cooler Rioja Alta and Alavesa regions kicked off around mid-September.
Despite the rainfall, the severe drought of the previous two years continues to affect vines, particularly younger ones. Norrel Robertson MW spoke about how his different vines cope with heat stress in the dry region of Calatayud in Aragón: “We’ve seen some problems with accumulated water stress and sunburn particularly in younger vines. Our 85 year-old parcels of Garnacha cope well with drought, but younger vines, particularly certain clones from California cope less well with heat stress, and we’ve seen fruit set issues in our six year-old vines.”
Photo caption: Norrel Robertson MW in his 85-year old Garnacha vineyard in Calatayud
Of course, rainfall at certain times can also cause issues. We have already written about the flowering issues caused by spring storms in Rioja and Aragón. In Rioja Oriental, heavy rainfall at the start of September also meant that picking dates had to be brought forward as grapes swollen by rain are more at risk of splitting and being affected by rot, as well as making this a complicated, stop-start vintage. In Rias Baixas, heavy rainfall has led to flowering and fruit set issues and fungal diseases.
Larger than 2023
In terms of quantity, the overall production is expected to be higher than 2023. The latest estimate from La Semana Vitivinícola is of 38 million hl, 17% more than last year.
But this varies a lot by region. Castilla La Mancha – responsible for a high proportion of volume, particularly of bulk wine – has seen very favourable conditions, with a lack of pests and diseases, and expects volumes to be 31% higher than last year. Extremadura also predicts a similarly large harvest.
The scenario is different in Castilla y Leon, where frost, storms and rainfall have had an effect on yields, particularly in Bierzo, Cigales, Rueda and Ribera del Duero. The picture is similar in Galicia, where conditions have been very damp, leading to fungal diseases and poor fruit set.
On the other hand, in the east, Valencia, Murcia and Cataluña continue to be affected by drought. Priorat and Terra Alta have had very little rainfall, although Penedès saw some spring rains. The head of the Unió de Pagesos (The Catalan Agricultural Union) expects overall production to be around 35% lower than last year.
Journalist Ferran Centelles, harvesting in Priorat last week, spoke of a “very small vintage of exceptional quality with fresh, ripe and juicy Cariñena grapes.”
In parts of Jumilla, Yecla and Bullas, the continued lack of rain dried out the vineyards to such an extent that it threatened the sustainability of vine growing in the area. However heavy rains in September brought around 60-100 litres to some villages in the area, with cooler nights slowing down the development of the grapes during the final ripening stages, as our supplier of Melea Monastrell explains:
“ Thankfully, the marvellous rain that we had a few days ago has helped revive the grapes in their final stage. We think this will be unique vintage, of very high quality, because the grapes show exceptional ripeness and health. Although we still have a few more days’ harvesting ahead before know the final production, it is down on the usual quantity due to the drought. To sum up: “little quantity, but great quality.”
Good overall quality
Cooler temperatures, and therefore slower ripening, tends to ensure higher quality and both DO Cava and DOCa Rioja have said that the health of the vines and the quality of the grapes looks to be very good.
In areas of Galicia that have seen heavy rain, the widespread application of organic treatments for mildew means that the quality is still expected to be good.
Of course, quality does not always equate to sales, and some regions, such as the Ribeira Sacra in Galicia are looking to active crisis distillation as previous vintages remain unsold and large wineries terminate contracts with suppliers.
Please do contact us if you’d like us to help you source high quality Spanish wines at the right price.
*Source: www.sevi.net La Semana Vitivinícola 24.09.24
Main photo caption: Grape picking in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Rioja © Bodegas Sonsierra