 |
Vintage Reports |
|
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
|
| November 29th 2006 |
|
| Spain: Complicated |
by Victor de la Serna
The year 2006 was again a complicated, uneven year in many parts of Spain, where every vintage since 2001 has had its technical difficulties; this time, it was mainly an unprecedented, ill-timed heat wave in the last week in August and the first in September, which caused ... |
|
|
...a sudden shrivelling of berries in southern and eastern Spain and cut production in areas which pick early – including the white wine producing zones of Galicia and Rueda and most of the Mediterranean regions. Later in September there were unusual seasonal rains, which actually helped western regions such as Ribera del Duero, Toro, Bierzo and even Rioja improve their outlook – and quality in these regions, which pick mostly in October, was good to very good.
The total harvest, estimated at 42 million hectoliters, was larger than in 2005, but on line with the long term average, and no region had any catastrophic problems. For the sparkling wine industry it was propitious that Catalonia had a good harvest, so that the producers of cava can meet their export demands. Both Rioja and Ribera del Duero also had slightly larger crops, with the latter posting a new record, some 25% above last year´s harvest. In terms of quality, some great wines – but certainly not many – will be produced in Spain in 2006. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
