The president of the Wine Sector of Asaja Córdoba, Juan Manuel Centella, explained this Thursday that in the wine-growing area of Córdoba, Montilla-Moriles, where the harvest has already started and which is "the earliest in Europe," a "normal harvest is expected, around 32 million kilos, almost 50% more than the previous campaign, which was disastrous due to downy mildew." The agricultural organization thus emphasizes the notable productive rebound after the strong impact of this fungal disease last year.
According to the agricultural employers' association in a note, Centella indicated that in Montilla-Moriles they remain "hopeful about the evolution of the summer, since if hot winds appear, the yield will be affected." The behavior of temperatures in the coming weeks will therefore be key to confirming these production forecasts.
In this initial phase of the campaign, the earliest ripening white grapes are being harvested, including the muscatel, intended to produce the first musts from which young wines will be obtained. Subsequently, the red varieties will come into play, and lastly, the native Pedro Ximénez, which constitutes the main volume of the harvest in this denomination and whose collection has not yet begun.
The agricultural organization has also specified that "the red grape from the area is increasingly smaller, with a symbolic area that will produce around 400,000 kilos of grapes." The trend confirms the loss of weight of these varieties compared to the traditional white ones in the region.
Regarding the economic aspect of the campaign, the president of the Wine Sector of Asaja Córdoba has pointed out that, for now, "they are yet to be determined, but the wineries have already announced that they will significantly lower from the 90 cents of the previous campaign." Thus, the increase in the harvest could be accompanied by a significant reduction in the remuneration of grapes for the grape growers.