Frost and drought have affected the harvest reducing the wine production
According to data from the Control Board of DOCa Rioja, the total production of grapes, final recount pending, will be around 349 million kilograms, in what will be the earliest harvest ever and one of the most complicated for these last years.
2017 has been a year marked above all by spring frost followed by drought, with high temperatures in summer, though it is true that the August rainfalls helped to complete the maturing and thanks to the carrying out of a selective harvest throughout all the territory, it has been possible to obtain very satisfactory quality results.
The devatting of the first grapes demonstrate “great aromas and wines of colour, structure and adequate polyphenols” according to Pablo Franco, Technical Director of the Control Board Rioja, which gives very optimistic first impressions of the wines elaborated.
Though there has been a 20 % drop comparing to the former year, approximately 90 million kilograms less, it is considered enough to maintain balance in Rioja.
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