Ripening status report No. 4: closely monitor vineyards after rainfall
Ripeness monitoring allows grape growers to determine the ideal date of harvest in each town, thereby optimising fruit quality and that of the wines made with it.
We continue publishing the results of the ripeness monitoring grape samplings: during the fourth week, the activity continues in Rioja Oriental where the harvest of white varieties is giving way to the first Tempranillo grapes. As far as red varieties are concerned, they are getting close to harvest in Rioja Oriental, particularly in Navarre.
The latest results show that, in Rioja Oriental, there is a significant acceleration in ripening, with good potential alcoholic strength, as well as good TPI, Anthocyanin and CI figures. At the Technical Department, they recommend “paying special attention to changes in acidity and pH values.”
We therefore continue talking about grapes in good condition with performance levels similar to a normal year although, after the recent rainfall, the Control Board has issued a Botrytis risk warning and the technical service recommend “keeping a close eye on the vineyard.”
In Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa there is a major jump in ripeness values, which are developing properly and they recommend “paying special attention to acidity and pH values.”
Regarding the average weight of clusters, Pablo Franco, director of the Control Body, says that “there has been no significant evolution and both berry weight and size figures are higher than those of other years in Rioja.
Good weather last week allowed for the reported delay of 4-5 days (compared to a normal Rioja season) to be recouped. This is more apparent in Viura and Garnacha, with a slight delay of 3-4 days over an average year for the region.
The Board will continue to carry out ripeness monitoring in the rest of the region over the coming weeks, as it is a key service which allows grape growers to determine the ideal date of harvest in each town, thereby optimising fruit quality and that of the wines made with it.
Download Ripening Status report No. 4 / 2018 Harvest
