Vindima 2012

[Axel P]

Report on the first half of 2012 from the Symingtons:

THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR IN THE DOURO
First impressions don’t always count
Irregular climate patterns are not uncommon in the Douro, but this year has been most unusual.
Observing the lovely green vineyards in the valley in June you could have easily been forgiven
for thinking that all was well. First impressions however, are not always right.
The data at Quinta do Bomfim indicates that the 2011/2 winter has been the driest in the Douro
in the last 40 years, as well as the third coldest since 1931. Readings taken at various depths in
the Douro show that soil humidity has been at very low levels throughout this winter. In June and
July the readings have been at levels only normally seen in August and September, the region’s
very driest months.
The viticultural cycle starts in November, and to the end of June there has been a cumulative
rain shortfall of 274 mm or 48%, about half the average water. In the 4 months from December to
the end of March, a total of just 54 mm fell at Pinhão. The average for the single month of
January is virtually double that, at 104 mm. As a result, by early April we were preparing to
water our one-year-old vines, an unheard of requirement at that time of the year.
Thankfully April and May brought normal rainfall and even more important, the average
temperatures have been below average for most of this year, hence the fine looking vineyards in
June. But the Douro has missed out on a substantial part of the important winter water reserves.
The spring rain was not enough to reverse the rapidly declining soil moisture levels, whose steep
downward curve commenced last November. The Portuguese Meteorological Office has now
classified over 50% of the country as being in ‘extreme drought’ conditions, mostly its central and
southern areas. The situation is not so dramatic in the Douro, but even here, most of the region
as of the first week of July is now classified at the next level down from ‘extreme drought’ to
‘severe drought’, which is hardly comforting.
Overall, these conditions have resulted in poor fruit set in some varietals and this will result in a
smaller than average crop. This will be advantageous as there will be less demand on each vine
to ripen its fruit. The next 6 to 7 weeks leading up to the harvest will be crucial; we are hoping for
some relatively cool weeks and hopefully even a little rain in August. An absence of rain and very
high temperatures will create conditions for a very challenging harvest. Although this is nothing
the Douro’s hardy farmers and their indigenous vines are unfamiliar with.

Best
Axel

[uncle tom]

News has reached me of a devastating hailstorm on Wednesday. Damage is still being assessed, but Q. Portal has reported near total destruction. Bomfim and Cavadinha may have 30% losses..

..not good..

[Alex Bridgeman]

News has reached me of a devastating hailstorm on Wednesday. Damage is still being assessed, but Q. Portal has reported near total destruction. Bomfim and Cavadinha may have 30% losses..

..not good..

I'd read about the hailstorm on FTLOP, but had not heard of the severe impact on Portal. That is bad news.

[Andy Velebil]

Update from Portal on the hail damage. Bad but not total destruction thankfully....

...30ha from a total of 105ha... no problem for the Reds and Ports. unfortunally for the whites have to find different blend. Will try to make this year, "un blanc the noir"

[uncle tom]

From recent conversations, there does not seem to be a great deal of optimism about this year's vintage, although there are some similarities with 1992, which came right, against expectations.

1992 was saved in part by a very wet and relatively cool August. The current forecast, however, is for typically dry hot weather...