With most of the
grapes now harvested, a clearer picture of the harvest result is emerging. We have read of the disasters
which have befallen some of the French vineyards this year with frost, hail and
even fire, but the Marco de Jerez rarely encounters too many problems. This
year, however, the weather has been more capricious than usual and the DO yield
looks like being 20% down on last year. It began with a very dry spring
followed by torrential rain causing the spread of mildew. The hot dry Levante
has blown almost endlessly through July and August, and with almost record
temperatures much water has evaporated from the grapes.
5 million kilos have already been picked and
the Consejo is estimating that the total will amount to 55 million, far from last
year’s crop of 76.4 million, and mainly thanks to a hotter and drier than
average year. There are two sides to this however; the advantage is that there
has been little trouble with insects, allowing very healthy grapes, but the
disadvantage is that the Levante and the lack of overnight dewfall have left the
grapes somewhat dehydrated. Still, the wind put a swift end to the mildew
problem. The drop in production has been very unequal, with almost normal
production in some places and large losses in others. Trebujena saw the largest
drop.
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