The hot weather of the last few weeks has
ripened the non-Palomino grapes very quickly and they are being harvested now
to conserve freshness and acidity. As global warming advances, harvests are
ever earlier; in 2000 and 2014 the harvests were earlier than usual, but this year
is earlier still, and most are harvesting at night, especially Chardonnay (the
first to ripen), Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Plantings of these are not
huge, but these varieties of cooler northern origins need to be picked soon before
they over-ripen. The red varieties are also ripening sooner than usual, but there
is less pressure here and they will probably be picked starting in the third
week of August at about the same time as the Palomino, which is, of course better
acclimatised. The quality of the grapes appears to be very high and there are
no signs of ill health. Much still depends on the weather over the next few
weeks, however.
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| Night harvesting at Bodegas Luis Perez' Vina el Corregidor (foto:Pascual/diariodejerez) |
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