Positive outlook for the upcoming grape harvest in Andalusia after years of drought

The wine sector expects to recover normal production levels thanks to the good health of the vineyards.

Generic image of vineyards ripening under the summer sun.
IA

Generic image of vineyards ripening under the summer sun.

The main wine-growing areas in Andalusia are approaching the upcoming harvest season with optimism, hoping to recover production levels close to normal after years marked by a lack of rainfall.

Current estimates suggest a harvest significantly higher than the previous year. In the last campaign, denominations such as Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Condado de Huelva, and Montilla-Moriles suffered losses reaching 50% of their production capacity due to drought and the impact of downy mildew.
The sanitary state of the vines is currently positive, thanks to reinforced monitoring and weather conditions that have limited the spread of pests such as powdery mildew. However, producers remain cautious about the coming weeks, noting that high temperatures in July could affect the final yield if they persist.
In the Montilla-Moriles region, forecasts point to a harvest of between 32 and 35 million kilograms of grapes. Harvesting of early varieties for still wines will begin in late July, while the Pedro Ximénez grape, the mainstay of local production, is expected to start between the first and second week of August.
At the same time, the sector faces uncertainty regarding purchase prices. Wineries have proposed lower initial offers, citing greater product availability, while growers are defending their margins against sustained increases in production costs and yields per hectare that remain far from historical records.