NUMBER 14, 2024
www.vintae.com IF WE WERE TO STOP DREAMING, WE WOULD NOT BE VINTAE
Lessons from the 2024 Harvest Richi Arambarri, founder and CEO of Vintae In life, we often measure reality against the expectations we create. In farming, this tendency is even stronger. The entire year’s work hinges on the final stages of the vine’s development, where the weeks—or even days—leading up to the harvest are critical. The 2024 vintage is a perfect example of this. Expectations were already high because it’s a year ending in 4, and some of the most iconic vintages carry this number: from the legendary 1964 to 1994 and 2004—even 2014 was an excellent year. Adding to this buzz was the fact that, over the past two decades, we’ve had a shortage of vintages rated as “excellent,” and it felt like we were “due for one.” With this background in mind, there was a lot of hope that 2024 would turn out to be an unforgettable harvest. "Indeed, the year got off to a promising start. In spring, the vineyards were in great shape, with almost no issues with disease. By late August, everything looked perfect: a small crop, but with exceptional quality—on track to becoming a standout vintage. However, things became more complicated, and while
it may not be the ‘excellent’ harvest we had hoped for, as we watch the wines develop, I’m personally pleasantly surprised by many of them. It’s not just us—other prestigious wineries share this sentiment as well. The 2024 vintage has reinforced a belief we’ve held for a long time: the importance of vineyard location in the right soils, where the vine can reach its full potential. Traditionally, vineyards have been planted on slopes with poor, well-drained soils, where dryfarmed vines produce balanced, high-quality grapes. However, in recent decades, some vineyards have shifted to less ideal land, soils historically used for other crops, where production is higher but quality is lower. This year, the differences between well-located vines and those in less suitable areas are clear: the former are strong and free from botrytis, while the more productive clones, with large, compact clusters, have suffered more from the fungus, especially if they weren’t harvested in time. In the end, this harvest reminds us of the importance of respecting nature and learning from it. Every vintage is a lesson, and 2024 has once again taught us the value of understanding the unique characteristics of our terroir and the importance of good vineyard management. At Vintae, we remain committed to viticulture that honors the essence of each place, striving to create wines that are true reflections of their origins and each year’s challenges and lessons.
“The 2024 vintage will bring balanced wines, despite a difficult harvest” RAÚL ACHA Technical Director at Vintae and winegrower
Raúl Acha, Technical Director at Vintae, provides an analysis of the 2024 harvest, which was shaped by challenging weather conditions that have impacted yields. The production has notably dropped, particularly in areas such as the Soria region of Ribera del Duero and Rioja Alta. However, Acha anticipates wines with balance and freshness. Although the final assessment will depend on how the wines evolve, the winemaker and viticulturist observe a noticeable improvement in quality compared to previous years.
How did the grapevine growth cycle go overall this year? The growing cycle has varied considerably across regions. In Castilla y León, particularly in the Toro, Ribera del Duero, and Rueda areas, we experienced abundant rainfall, with significant rainfalls in the autumn, winter, and early spring. In Galicia, in the Atlantic basin, there was also considerable rainfall, as well as in the eastern part of Rioja and Navarra. However, in Rioja Alta, rainfall was relatively scarce during the first part of the growth cycle, especially in areas close to the Sierra de la Demanda, such as Alto Najerilla, where winter rains from October to April were well below average. From there, we experienced a mostly dry start to spring across all regions, from late March to early May. A wet period from May to July was a welcome change, particularly in Rioja Alta, where the drought had taken a noticeable toll. As for temperatures, early spring was relatively warm, but as spring came to a close and summer began, temperatures dropped
below normal, giving the impression that summer might never arrive. It wasn't until the second half of July that true summer temperatures finally set in, leading into a warm, dry period that lasted over a month. Towards the end of August, however, the weather took a turn. Rain arrived, marking the start of the year's most challenging period. From late August through October, excessive rainfall affected all regions, leading to botrytis issues and softer grapes than desired. How has the campaign unfolded, and what challenges have you encountered? The harvest started off quite calmly, and even the initial rains were well-received. However, from midSeptember—especially around the weekend of the 21st—the rains became heavier. We had already begun picking, but from the week of September 23, we had to speed up as the grapes started softening. This year’s harvest wrapped up very quickly, not only because of the accelerated pace but also due to a lower yield.