A few weeks ago the 2020 harvest in Spain. Specifically, it began, as every year, in the Canary Islands. Later Andalusia joined the DO Montilla-Moriles and Castilla-La Mancha. The other areas are doing it these days or will do it in the coming weeks. It is estimated that production is irregular Throughout the Spanish territory. In general terms, it is estimated that there will be a increase of about 15% and that quality it will be good or very good. Here we do a review of the campaign that will be marked by the measures to avoid contagion by the coronavirus.
The general scenario of the 2020 vintage
Everything indicates that, with the exception of the appellations of origin of Catalonia and Extremadura, the other areas will maintain or have a higher production than last year's harvest. In the case of Catalonia for problems of mildew and in Extremadura due to problems of drought.
This increase in production, in general, will lead to the production of 44 million hectoliters of wine in the 2020 vintage. This production will be higher by 16% compared to the production of last year 2019. All of this adds up to sales of wine in recent months lower than the previous year. This may have an impact on the grape price as well as some problems in wineries.
As indicated in the sector, because of the closure of hotels and restaurants sales have dropped. This has affected the low influx of international tourism, as well as the cancellation of events, weddings and popular festivals, which has an effect on the economy of most wineries.
On the other hand, it seems that some pruning in green to reduce production and increase distillation may appease this increase in production in the wine market. From the sector it is requested that a budget and actions be provided to be able to activate these actions as soon as possible.
Measures against coronavirus
One of the issues that worries the sector is the effect that the coronavirus in the days of vintage 2020. Almost all the wineries have taken extraordinary measures to face the crisis caused by the pandemic. These wineries are taking action to avoid contagion among the grape pickers and that the harvest is not affected with stoppages for this reason.
They are simple actions like harvest from a distance and have controls when these are together. Although they are very basic actions, on a day-to-day basis, they present significant challenges for workers. The advance of the campaign indicates that it will last a few weeks more than normal until it reaches the later varieties and it can be a long vintage.
Below we report some of the information of the following appellations of origin who have started the vintage 2020:
DO Jumilla
This season that has just started, it is estimated that it will have a grape production similar to that of last season. With perspectives around 15% more performance than in 2019 and with a valuation excellent quality. At the beginning of September the harvest will become general in the rest of the denomination.
Montilla-Moriles
On July 23, the harvest began in the appellation of origin Montilla-Moriles. It is expected that the production is very similar to that of the year 2019. The health of the grape is being very good, as well as its quality. The campaign started with the Chardonay varieties and in a couple of weeks the native variety will begin Peter Jimenez.
DO Somontano
This week the harvest has started in the appellation of origin Somontano. Has started with the white variety Gewürztraminer. This year they will have a production 20-25% lower than the year 2019 due to hail problems and spring frosts. The abundant rains have also affected production. In the DO the harvest has come about ten days earlier this year.
In the Canary Islands
The second week of July the harvest began in the northern hemisphere and it was in Canary Islands the first place. The drought suffered this year has brought forward the harvest, but has not diminished the production that will be 20% higher than in 2019, which was very unproductive. The quality and health of the grape is very good.
DO Marco de Jerez
The harvest begins in the second half of August in this appellation of origin. At the moment, it is estimated that production is 10% higher to the year 2019 and with optimal quality.
DO Binissalem
This denomination of origin of Mallorca began on August 6 his vintage 2020. This year he has moved forward one week compared to 2019. His forecasts are for lower production of grapes and therefore a lower volume of winemaking basically due to mildew problems.
This is, as of today, the information we have about the vintage 2020 which seems more laborious, perhaps, due to the measures anti coronavirus. We will remain attentive to the final productions of each DO
