Some wineries, appellations and regions begin the grape harvest this August
The heat is always a factor that influences the start of the grape harvest. Large wine-producing areas near the Baix Cinca region, such as the Raimat winery (DO Costers del Segre), have already begun harvesting this week. Other areas, like Somontano , which recently celebrated its wine festival, usually begin harvesting grapes around mid-August.
In our region, Belver de Cinca is home to the only two wineries in the Bajo Cinca area. On one hand, there's Finca Valonga , complete with its own winery and the capacity to process the grapes from its 60 hectares. On the other, there's Bodega Nuviana , founded in 2001 and part of the Codorníu Raventós group of Aragonese wineries, along with other wineries. With the current temperatures, Valonga may also begin its manual grape harvest in August, as it did in 2023.
Due to location and climate, these are some of the first grape harvests in Europe.
Rising temperatures can increase diseases and pests in grapes
One of the most obvious effects of rising temperatures on the grape harvest is the earlier harvest dates . According to some publications, this is because the higher temperatures are accelerating the grape ripening process. In Spain, for example, the average harvest date has moved forward by a month over the last 50 years . This change can have negative consequences for wine producers, as they may be forced to harvest the grapes before they reach optimal ripeness. This can result in a lower quality wine, with less acidity and more sugar.
This is because higher temperatures are increasing the incidence of diseases and pests, such as downy mildew and botrytis , according to some studies. These diseases can damage grapes and lead to crop losses . They can also affect the flavor and quality of the wine.
How to protect crops?
The use of nanotechnology in agriculture is yielding excellent results in protecting grapevines. Agrostock's Nanocrop range ensures effective protection of vineyards against various types of biotic and abiotic stress, increasing the plants' overall resistance and keeping them in a state of heightened alertness to any stressful situation with minimal energy expenditure, thanks to the LCT molecule incorporated into the technology.
Furthermore, it helps conserve the environment, as the amounts of copper and sulfur used are much lower than those in conventional products . This company, based in Fraga , recommends using Nanocrop Copper and Nanocrop Sulfur as tools to improve vineyard physiology.
In this way, higher quality and healthier grapes can be obtained , which will undoubtedly produce excellent wines.
