And finally… the rain came to the Douro
After one week of hot temperatures, it finally rained in the Douro Valley. It stormed heavily on Saturday noon, for around 4 hours. I’m not sure if the rain caused any damage to the vines or to the bunches, but I would say no.
I think this rain can help to slow down the ripening process, which has developed really fast in the last weeks. The berries already have a high content of sugar, which suggests the wines from 2009 will be relatively alcoholics, as the phenolic ripeness is undergoing and needs some more weeks to get completed.
On Saturday August 15th, some Portuguese and Norwegian friends helped us to make a ripening control in our vineyards in the Douro Superior - Quinta das Olgas - revealing not very surprising results:
- 20 year-old vines: 13,5% potential alcohol
- 4 year-old vines : 11,2% potential alcohol
Last year on September 2nd we had similar values. So these results are quite consistent with what we got in Quinta Vale d’Agodinho on Monday 10th, showing the harvest may start two weeks earlier this year.
Oscar
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Comments
Hi Justin,
We’ll probably start harvesting in 14 to 18 days our red vines in the upper Douro Superior. This year the weather has been really hot in August and the rain of the last days will hardly delay the process.
I’m looking forward to see you as well, I hope you take some days off to head to the Douro!
Oscar
I’m definitely coming to the Douro after EWBC, but I’m also hoping to come before: I’ve sent you a couple of emails…
I’m definitely coming to the Douro after EWBC, but I’m also hoping to come before: I’ve sent you a couple of emails…
Sorry… forgot to say great post - can’t wait to read your next one!
Oscar, thanks for the update- this is what I have been hearing from the producers over in Rioja as well- about 2 weeks early this year!
Cheers- Michael
Thanks Michael for your comment. Is interesting to see that the veraison at early July was 10 days latter that previous year and then in August the ripeness sped up. Do you know if the veraison in Rioja came late as well?
Quevedo was founded in 1991 as a family owned business in the heart of the Douro valley, responding to the needs of the generations that preceded the associate founders. These ancestors were passionately dedicated to their vineyards and to the culture that surrounded the production of wine. Consequently, the company was created as a seamless marriage between the initial phase of production and the promotion and selling of their wines. Currently, the estate is comprised of 100 hectares located in the regions of Cima-Corgo and Douro Superior, producing both red and port wines from only the five traditional port grapes Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão and Tinta Barroca. 
Oscar
When do you think you will be harvesting?
I’m looking forward to catching up at EWBC in October!
Justin