How goes the vintage?

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 17:56 Sun 22 Jul 2007

We are getting to the point where climatic factors have an increasing impact on this year's vintage.

The immediate five day forecast for northern Portugal looks reasonably benign, with a little rain and plenty of sun - but relatively cool for this time of year.

Anyone know how the season has progressed to date? I've not heard of any hail storms this year..!

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 02:17 Mon 23 Jul 2007

I haven't got much information to date, but I was told by a owner in the Douro that so far, they are late. They had poor weather during the spring and no heat wave have been seen yet.

I was looking trough meteo this week too and it is unsually cool in the Douro for this time of the year. Normally veraison happens during the end of July, early August, it will be a good indicator on how late they are when veraison will happen.

I'll try to know more and post it here.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 10:32 Wed 25 Jul 2007

The forecast remains sunny and a little warmer (up from 22 to 26C) this weekend - but another cold front may hit the region on Tuesday.

It looks as though the southerly jet stream that is pulling the weather systems south and giving England a drenching this summer is also drawing cooler and less settled weather into Iberia.

A late vintage is not necessarily a poor one, but the autumnal weather systems start rolling in after the equinox, increasing the risk of a washout..

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 10:51 Tue 31 Jul 2007

A few days ago it looked as though the change in month would bring a change in weather, with a big fat high pressure system coming across the Atlantic.

That's now falling apart, and another cold front looks likely this weekend.

Whilst it's been reasonably sunny in the Douro, the temperatures remain firmly stuck in the 20's...

- does that matter?? - I'm not sure...

- Any more word from the ground Fred?

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 12:42 Tue 31 Jul 2007

Some are out on vacation at the moment. I did not get a reply from last week. I'll try with another source today. I'm getting worried with my harvest trip too.

But low temperature is not a big problem. Well it can. But if the rain does not fall too heavily in October, the harvest can sometimes be completed up to late October like in 2005. The problem could be with sugar level. Good for dry wines but very bad for ports.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 14:20 Tue 31 Jul 2007

I've got some info. I'm chatting with a friend in Portugal at the moment. Yes my job keeps me very busy

Yes there was some rain but it was good because the winter was dry. Things looks good for the time being, we expect it continue as the weather forecasts a medium hot month of August... so far everybody is happy

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 06:12 Wed 01 Aug 2007

Extract from an old vintage report by Amyas Warre (published by Mayson)

"The summer was conspicuous for low temperatures, and although just before and during vintage warmer weather prevailed, the grapes have never ripened properly"

The year?

.. 1931

- Fingers crossed

Tom

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 13:07 Wed 01 Aug 2007

It is always fun to read those old forcasts of vintages and then see how things turn out in the long run, thanks for a nice laugh this morning Tom

Post by **DRT** » 01:54 Fri 03 Aug 2007

Do you think Christian Seely would sell us 20 cases of Nacional 2007 before it's picked off the vines

Derek

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 03:36 Fri 03 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:Do you think Christian Seely would sell us 20 cases of Nacional 2007 before it's picked off the vines

Derek

Didnt you already bring some of those grapes home....and some stemware

Post by **DRT** » 23:10 Fri 03 Aug 2007

Who? Me?

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 03:20 Sat 04 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:Who? Me?

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 15:42 Sat 04 Aug 2007

According to infoportwine, the harvest is looking small - 30% down on '06

As they note, small harvests are often very good ones.

Still no great heatwave in the Douro, but plenty of sunshine.

- Any word on veraison Fred?

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 07:17 Wed 08 Aug 2007

Wall to wall sunshine continues, with no sign of a break, but temperatures remain sub 30.

Any news from the ground?

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 14:07 Thu 16 Aug 2007

After a day or two of damp misty weather, steady, fine dry weather is forecast for the next few days. (for Vila Real - nearest location on the BBC weather site)

But the temperatures remain very cool - typically around the 25C level.

History gives examples of cool summers with late harvests coming up trumps, but the risk of autumnal weather systems closing in before the grapes are ripe must be a big concern now.

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 12:25 Sun 26 Aug 2007

For the last ten days the weather has been dry and sunny, but the temperature has remained in the mid twenties - unusually cool for the Douro in August.

Today there is some rain, with a little more forecast tomorrow. For Tuesday and Wednesday the forecast is for overcast skies and mist, with the temperature struggling to reach 20C...

The rain is probably beneficial, but the cool damp misty weather sounds like a recipe for mildew.

A month ago, Fred reported that the season was running late, since when the weather has done nothing to make up for lost time.

- Looks like the harvest will be very late this year...

Tom

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:28 Sun 26 Aug 2007

Tom, Frederick: thank you for this running commentary. Very interesting.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 02:13 Mon 27 Aug 2007

uncle tom wrote:
A month ago, Fred reported that the season was running late, since when the weather has done nothing to make up for lost time.

Tom

I sent an email recently to 3 good sources with a few questions about port and harvest season and none replied on the latter

I'll try to know more this week maybe or next week I'll be your Douro correspondant if I can find an Internet connection

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 07:52 Tue 28 Aug 2007

Fred - if you can give us a blow-by-blow account from the front line, that would be excellent.

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 13:19 Tue 28 Aug 2007

I'll try, I'll try! It will only depends on how often I can get a connection and for how long!

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 13:13 Thu 30 Aug 2007

Much of the cold damp murky weather forecast for this week seems to have failed to materialise - and the forecast for the weekend is at last up to 30C.

Hopefully Fred will be able to enlighten us soon from the front line..

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 14:26 Mon 03 Sep 2007

An update in infoportwine notes that expectations of a smaller crop than last year are easing, with some vineyards predicting a similar volume.

The piece ends with:

"All reports mentioned that it has been a difficult growing season with many fungus diseases like mildew and oidium"

This is not terribly encouraging. The only good news is that the daytime temperature has finally broken through the 30C level.

Tom

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 17:34 Mon 03 Sep 2007

I received a press release today with harvest forecasts for the whole of Portugal. Sandra Tavares gives a forecast for the Douro.

Douro
Sandra Tavares da Silva Ã¢€‟ Pintas / Quinta do Vale D. Maria
“There is an evident decrease of production. The grapes maturation is delayed and we need that the climate stays stable and warm for the next 2 weeks in order to have a good phoenolic maturation. For the producers which did the correct treatments for mildew, the grapes show a very good sanitary condition. Regarding the quality of this vintage, it seems that it will be very good to excellent, with balanced productions.†

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 19:13 Mon 03 Sep 2007

Interesting comments from the field.

One might expect the producer of 'vintage every year' port to be a little bullish though, and the bit about mildew smacks of a smug swipe at the competition..!

Still, it looks as though all is not lost - yet - at least!

~~~

If you watch the progress of hurricanes in the gulf, you can sometimes get an early indication of what is likely to happen over Iberia a week or more ahead.

Hurricane Dean got swallowed and deflated by the American landmass, and as Felix is running well south, it may well do the same.

Sometimes though, they sweep around the US coast, without going far inland, and head back across the Atlantic - drenching european vineyards and spoiling the vintage...

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 21:46 Tue 04 Sep 2007

So far the forecast for the next 10 day is only rain for Sunday or Monday depending on the region you'll be in the Douro. The weather will flirt with 30 celcius and go down around 25 after the rain.

It is a bit odd that the harvest is later this year, last year it was earlier... its hard to plan a trip ahead

On the good side, it should give me more time to talk with producers.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:09 Thu 06 Sep 2007

Fred,

Thanks for the update. Let us know how your trip is going.

Alex

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 15:28 Fri 07 Sep 2007

Fresh news from the field. Ill do it quickly and sorry for mistype due to Portuguese keyboard.

Early 2007 was not easy. Rain removed some pollen from the grapes flowers to cut down early on yields. then more rain brought mildew and odium problems so vineyards had to be helped with sulfur. Then august was cool(for douro) which was good to keep the vines healty with no stress bringing high acidity in the grapes because of cool nights.

Right now the grapes look healty, they are a bit late though. Peak harvest time should start within a week or two. At Niepoort until today only Pinot Noir was harvested and today they did harvest some ungrafted prephyloxerian clone for a group of journalist that wanted to experience it.

They do not fear some rain in a near futre. For wines it looks so far like ideal conditions to make fresh and balance ones, for Port it is too early to say anything until a few days pass.

Im not sure how often Ill update here but this is the news I can give you.

And of course, Charme 2005 and Vintage 2005 are the bests wines I got so far...

Cheers

P.S. Derek, I have not forget you.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 10:28 Sat 08 Sep 2007

Some rain was forecast for this weekend, but that has now susbsided into a cool dry day tomorrow. Otherwise the temperature is ranging around 30C - which is typical for September.

Looking further ahead, a long cold front is forecast to cross the Atlantic next week, but at this point it looks fairly feeble. Behind that we have a subtropical storm 'Gabrielle' which is bouncing off the US east coast at the moment.

This looks set to cross the atlantic, but where it ends up is uncertain - it will probably make landfall - somewhere in europe - around the 18th.

Fred - do the vines need any more rain now, or are the grapes adequately swelled?

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 09:06 Mon 10 Sep 2007

uncle tom wrote:Fred - do the vines need any more rain now, or are the grapes adequately swelled?

Tom

During the week end I was able to take some walks in the vineyards of the douro. I can say that it is not an even situation. On the same vineyards, some grapes were badly affected by mildew as some others were completly dried.

At another one, they stopped using chemicals to kill weeds as too much rain feeding the weeds would have mean using too much chemicals.

Harvest should slowly start today in the Douro after a holiday week-end for most employees and the peek should be early next week and on.

Last night I did taste Vesuvio 2005 cask sample, it was simply superb!! amazing nose of floral and spices, great fruit purity, it has it all. Probably the best young Vesuvio since 2000.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 09:51 Mon 10 Sep 2007

This wont be of much use, but 10 miles away, it's been a cloudy weekend, but the Sun has broken through today, and the locals are suggesting the week ahead is fine. 80's with a scattering of early morning cloud.

Conky, the Beach Reporter, Vila Nova de Gaia, for The Port Forum!

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 10:00 Mon 10 Sep 2007

Thanks for the site reports guys!

Gabrielle seems to be heading northwards - looks more likely to hit the UK than Portugal at this point - probably next Monday.

Tom

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 13:02 Mon 10 Sep 2007

The earlier optimism of great weather is early or misplaced. Its cloudy and foggy! Its even made the Portuguese news, but my broken understanding of the language doesn't help much, as to how long it will last! I suppose its more time for catching up on the Forum. Doesn't look good for the Mildew, which from my gardening knowledge on garden plants, is caused by a dry period(that bit usually surprises folk), followed by too much damp. If its affecting the vinyards, this is NOT the weather you want.

Even worse, I suspect she's going to suggest shopping!

Alan.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 14:48 Mon 10 Sep 2007

Alan, just remember the weather in Gaia, next to the Atlantic Ocean, is much different than in the Douro valley, some 60 miles inland.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 16:45 Mon 10 Sep 2007

Alan, I am also quite envious of you as you sit on the shores of Gaia sipping some nice Port. I wish I was there right now, as I feel like a kid waiting for christmas morning to come. A mere 3 more weeks and I will be sharing in the fun you are now partaking in. I can't wait to get back to Portugal in October. Have a great time and be safe.

What places have you stopped in at?

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 11:34 Tue 11 Sep 2007

About the losses, I had some discussions last night and it is not great news. The average lost is more or so 30%. Plus those who are sorting grapes can loose up to 15% due to grape illness causing the berry to dry, rotten and mildew fruit are also other causes.

Some vineyards are saying theyÃ‚Â´ll be hardly able to get a small 500kg.

Some pictures I take on my trip have started being post on Niepoort website : http://www.niepoort-vinhos.com/NewsQuintaDeNapoles.html

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 14:22 Tue 11 Sep 2007

Nice pictures Fred. The new winery looks like a must visit.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:32 Tue 11 Sep 2007

I've just heard from another friend in the Douro at the moment that the Taylor's are not - at the moment - expecting that either 2006 or 2007 will be of sufficient quality and quantity to declare.

Alex

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 07:29 Wed 12 Sep 2007

..if true, they may come to regret not declaring 2005..

Tom

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 07:56 Wed 12 Sep 2007

The remains of Gabrielle are now forecast to go way north - nearer to Iceland than the UK.

The US National Hurricane Center has no other storms on it's radar at the moment, which means the risk of a serious washout before the end of the month is now low.

But the temperature is dropping back again, and Friday is forecast to be cool and damp.

Does anyone have any information as to which grape varieties fare better in cooler weather?

I recall that Tinta Amarela rots with little provocation - so I suspect those vines will not be cropping well this year..

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 10:54 Thu 13 Sep 2007

Last night I had a very good dinner at DOC restaurant with a few winemakers and their wines. I was sitting with Alvaro Castro and his daughter Maria. They are great people, Alvaro is so funny!

Anyway it was a good occasion to talk about the harvest and its quality. Rain is not needed at the moment, it would only break the pace of the harvest. A little bit would not do any harm.

As for the quality of the grapes, yes some like Tinta Armarella are easily affected but they are each year, this is why it is mainly overlooked by many. They are not significantly worst than any other years. At Napoles, being near the Douro and Tedo brings more humidity and does not help. Quality control is then necessery to be done on sorting tables.

It is worrying to see the pace of new grafting and plantings in the Douro this year. I had not seen as much in my previous trip. Things are getting simplier and too similar for a lot of vineyards.

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 15:36 Thu 13 Sep 2007

Fred , what do you mean when you say things are simpler and getting too similar in a lot of the vineyards ?

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 15:51 Thu 13 Sep 2007

It means quite a few things....

For example : lets say 30% of your vineyard is not in good shape. It is cheaper to put the bulldozer and plant from scratch than to keep your old vines and only replace those not good.

Some varieties as Tom points out are more sensitive to illness, so they just uproot them and plant a new plot. Sometimes at least they just keep the root and put a new grafting of a new varietal.

Producers tend to work with 3-5 grapes and overlook the multitude of grapes available in the Douro.

There is an age were vines do not produce as much grapes as younger vines. For some companies aiming on volume before quality, old vines are not a good way of making money, so again they uproot and plant again.

And YES there is some vineyards that are planted with wrong grapes for the area or are in very bad shape and it needs to repair them, but this is not the majority.

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 00:41 Fri 14 Sep 2007

Merci Fred .
I find It hard to believe that some producers still match the wrong grapes with the wrong soil . . .

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 03:14 Fri 14 Sep 2007

Planting grapes by varietial is a relatively new thing for the douro. In the past vineyards were a hodge-podge mix of numerous different grape varietals all mixed together. The farmers couldn't tell you what was what. That still holds true for many Quintas to this day. Although that is slowly changing as sections are replanted.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 22:15 Fri 14 Sep 2007

After Gabrielle came Humberto, which has developed on shore, and is probably not a major issue.

Next in this year's storm alphabet is Ingrid - a relatively modest affair at present, but tracking between the Florida Keys and Bermuda which makes it a bit of a threat, although it's progress is currently quite leisurely.

With the vintage running late, fair weather in early October may be the last chance to save this year from oblivion. The immediate forecast is looking very autumnal however.

I have previously opined that this year only needed to yield an average vintage to get a declaration - I am increasingly doubtful that will be achieved now.

Tom

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 18:43 Sat 15 Sep 2007

Tom, I donÃ‚Â´t know on which website you are checking the weather? on my side, I often check on Yahoo for Vila Real forecast. What I can say is that it is much warmer around Pinhao than what they forecast for Vila Real. The last two days were easily around 35 Celsius.

Harvest for dry wines is almost at its peak at the moment. For the Port, it will start slowly Monday and should reach its peak between 7 and 10 days from now.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 21:01 Sat 15 Sep 2007

Vila Real is the nearest reporting station I can find - I check it through the BBC site.

I just looked up the stats for this station, and notice that it's at 562m - which probably accounts for the difference..

.. well - learn something every day!

What's the mood like on the front line?

Tom

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 03:07 Sun 16 Sep 2007

Tom I too have tried to find a closer reporting station with no such luck. Bummer becuase the weather can be very different even a few kilometers up river.

If anyone knows where to access Pinhao's weather please let us know.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 10:28 Sun 16 Sep 2007

This is a bit convoluted, but here is a link to the Jancis Robinson page, quoting Charles Symington on his thoughts for the 2007 Harvest, on the 10th September.

Link

and as far as the weather in Pinhao goes, is this any use?

Link

NB. When you get to Pinhao.Com, click on the weather box in the bottom left corner. It gives you an extensive weather report, but I cant link straight to that page. Maybe some of you Techies can.

Alan

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 10:41 Sun 16 Sep 2007

I must say, I had a trawl through that Pinhao.Com site, but being in Portuguese, it was only making minimal sense. I found the radio page, which has a few local stations you can play on your PC.
I listened to a few. Very Portuguese, and reminded me of last weeks trip. Then I saw 'Radio Duoro Sol'. I thought of vinyards and Quinta's and sunny weather and pressed on the icon.
Out blasted Rhinna's Umberella! Which is an urban London girl with her latest UK number 1 single!!! Amusing. It went native after her record, but the mood was gone.

Alan