Spain 2016 vintage report from key regions

With all the grapes picked, we round up how key regions in Spain like Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Valdepeñas fared in 2016.

Spain’s wine powerhouse of Valdepeñas, south of Castilla La Mancha, will crush nearly 100m kilos of grapes this year. A total of 99.1 million kilos of grapes have been harvested from 22,000 hectares of vineyards certified in the central Spanish appellation.

Some 43.2 million kilos of white grapes were picked, including Airén, Macabeo, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscatel de Grano Menudo.

Meanwhile, 55.9 million kilos are red grapes were harvested, made up of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. The 2016 harvest is down by 2.6 million kilos on 2015.

Autumnal vines in Rioja

The region experienced high temperatures and scarce rain in July and August, which resulted in grapes being picked 10 days later than in 2015.

According to Jesús Martin, president of A.O. Valdepeñas, over 2,600 growers picked their grapes in “perfect conditions” and to “high quality standards”.

While hopes are high for a good quality 2016 vintage, the final outcome won’t be known until March when the wines will be ready to be certified.

In another key Spanish region, the Rioja DOCa has reported and “exceptional” 2016 harvest both in terms of quality and quantity, with unusually favourable weather and exceptional condition of grapes producing “superb” results.

The wet spring and early summer left water reserves, which helped the vines – especially old ones with deep roots – through the hot, dry summer.

Acidity and tannin levels are normal, especially in the higher, cooler vineyards. The region’s control board certified 442.4m kg grapes, which will be turned into 318.5m litres of wine.

In Ribera del Duero, a mild winter was followed by a cool and wet spring. Summer arrived late and was hot and dry.

Daniel de Manuel, export manager of Bodegas Protos, believes hot days and cool nights in October means the 2016 vintage could be “as good as the excellent 2015”.

In Cava, the grapes are generally healthy, despite the worst drought in Penedès since the 1940s.

However, some varieties are 50% down on last year; Xarel.lo fared best, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Macabeu the hardest hit. For many producers in the region it has been a difficult harvest.

The 2016 growing season started late in Jerez after a drier year than usual, but heavy late-summer rainfall followed by hot sun created ideal conditions for mildew.

Vineyards near the coast, where humidity is naturally higher, were the most affected, and yields will be lower there.

“Due to their privileged location in Jerez Superior and the influence of the dry Levante wind, our vineyards were not affected. Yield predictions for 2016 are lower than 2015 but it is shaping up to be a healthy vintage,” González Byass reported.