Harvest Report 2012 October 2012 – Information prepared by Vasco Magalhães, Wine Educator Sogrape Vinhos The first months of 2012 brought with them a certain amount of positive expectations for the viticultural year ahead. January, February and March were marked by low-temperatures and practically non-existent rainfall. February, especially, broke many records because of an uncharacteristic run of weather. With April came the rain, and high levels of rainfall were recorded in all of Portugal’s winemaking regions, including estates such Quinta de Azevedo, in the Vinho Verde region, Quinta da Leda and Quinta do Seixo, in the Douro Region, Quinta dos Carvalhais, in the Dão Region and Herdade do Peso in Vidigueira, deep in the Alentejo. The scarcity of water in the soil will have contributed to the delay witnessed in the start of the vegetative cycle. Flowering, for example, was delayed by two weeks compared to the previous year, in practically every region. Herdade do Peso was the first estate to record this stage, between the 16th of May for Alicante Bouschet and 21st of May for Aragonês, Syrah and Alfrocheiro varieties; in the Douro, the Cima Corgo flowered before the Upper Douro, curiously enough, with Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca registered on 18th of May and Touriga Nacional taking an additional 3 days to flower; at Quinta da Leda, near Foz Coa, flowering took place between the 23rd of May, for the Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca varieties, and 26th May for Touriga Nacional; lastly, at Quinta de Azevedo and Quinta dos Carvalhais, lying in regions that are typically cooler, flowering only started on June 4th. Following the April showers, vines went through a period of heightened vulnerability to diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew, prompting the application of preventive treatments. Nonetheless, by the time flowering and fruit set were underway the weather had turned warm and dry, with the promise of a decent vintage. Despite this, and particularly due to the lack of water in the soil, most regions reported instances of coulure during grape development up to véraison, as well as smaller berry sizes. For further information please contact Sogrape Vinhos Press Relations Tel: +351 22 785 03 00 [email protected] www.sograpevinhos.eu Be responsible. Drink in Moderation. The sequence of phenomena described above, especially the delay in flowering, was naturally reflected in the start dates for this year’s harvests. Sogrape Vinhos began its harvest on the 21st of August, with the Antão Vaz and Arinto white grape varieties at Herdade do Peso, but only on September 3rd did this winery start working at the capacity necessary to receive the harvested Alfrocheiro, Aragonês, Alicante Bouschet and Syrah red grape varieties. The 2012 vintage marked Luís Cabral de Almeida’s debut in the Alentejo. Following 8 vintages in Argentina, the winemaker has returned to Portugal to take the helm at Herdade do Peso, and at the close of a 57 day vintage his enthusiasm is palpable. Surprised by the cool climate he has experienced at Vidigueira, Cabral de Almeida describes a summer that although hot, especially during August, had cool and humid mornings, contributing to a well-balanced final ripening. The resulting wines reveal a great freshness, whilst rich in colour, aroma and phenolic Luís Cabral de Almeida – Alentejo, Herdade do Peso compounds. Conditions are right for Luís Cabral Almeida to assuredly affirm that “this has been an excellent vintage”. Up the Douro, at Quinta da Leda, the vintage began on the 13th of September, with only Tinta Barroca to start off with. It began in earnest 4 days later with Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. António Braga, the resident winemaker, is more cautious in his prognosis, pointing out, nonetheless, that the August showers were important and beneficial in terms of grape quality. Despite an obvious fall in production, Braga affirms that "the wines were well structured, healthy and with fine components in terms of their quality, especially the Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional varieties." Luis Sottomayor confirms this view. As a matter of fact, the Director of winemaking for Sogrape Vinhos’ Douro DOC and Port Wines is very satisfied by the overall quality of the 2012. António Braga, Quinta da Leda As a result of the grapes slow ripening, on the 9th of October the Douro harvest was still at its halfway stage, with the entire harvest predicted to be in by the end of the month. In explaining this prolonged harvest, Luís Sottomayor highlights the characteristics of the agricultural year, with its especially dry winter and little soil humidity, resulting in smaller grapes that diminished overall production, despite the usual amount of grape bunches. The weather has since been favourable with the summer months proving quite satisfactory in terms of temperature differentials, as well as adequate rainfall in May, June and July all contributing to what Luís Sottomayor has described as “an exceedingly steady ripening period”. Although it is still too early for any predictions to be made regarding Vintage Port Wines or Douro Special Editions, Luís Sottomayor has no doubts as to the overall quality of the vintage in terms of the fine acidity, fruit and structure that the 2012 wines Luís Sottomayor - Douro have shown so far. On to Quinta dos Carvalhais and the Dão region, where winemaker Manuel Vieira, now expertly supported by Beatriz Cabral de Almeida, has led a vintage entirely adapted to the conditions and raw materials available. The harvest on this For further information please contact Sogrape Vinhos Press Relations Tel: +351 22 785 03 00 [email protected] www.sograpevinhos.eu Be responsible. Drink in Moderation. estate began on the 11th and 12th of September, with Encruzado and Touriga Nacional, respectively. Their focus was also directed to the production of sparkling wine. The harvest resumed two days later, with the white grape variety, Encruzado, once again leading the way into the winery, followed by the early-ripening red grape varieties such as Tinta Roriz and Jaen. Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional, destined for higher-quality wines, were harvested later, from the 3rd of October onwards. This staggered approach has resulted in well balanced grapes and wines, with the desired alcohol levels, colours, acidities and pH. Manuel Vieira’s vintages have been practically rainless since 2003, although harvest-time rainfall had been a frequent Beatriz Cabral de Almeida e Manuel Vieira, Quinta dos Carvalhais negative factor in the vintages following the winery’s opening in 1990. The year 2012 has, according to the winemaker, been an unusual year, but in a positive sense. August showers delayed overall grape ripening, but the dry east wind and cool nights restored a certain balance to this process. Beatriz Cabral Almeida, resident winemaker at Quinta dos Carvalhais, seems pleasantly surprised with the fine colours, elegance, acidity and aromatic components the wines have shown so far. Also under the direction of Manuel Vieira’s winemaking expertise is the production at Quinta de Azevedo, in the Vinho Verde Region, the last region to be harvested. Grapes of the Loureiro variety first entered the winery on the 20th of September, with Pedernã, a later variety, coming in on October 5th. Although satisfied with the quality of the grapes, which maintained decent quality across the board and developed interesting aromas during their fermentation, as well as the fine acidity and moderate alcohol desirable in this style of wine, the rain forced Manuel Vieira to interrupt the harvest on the 25th September. Now it is a matter of waiting and looking forward to the evolution and development of these wines. This report would not be complete without the opinion of Miguel Pessanha, Sogrape Vinhos’ Director of Viticulture and Winemaking, and his overall evaluation of this year’s vintage throughout the main winemaking regions in which the company operates: “I feel quite satisfied because, from the Vinho Verde through to the Douro and Dão and eventually the Alentejo, the wines have revealed an excellent freshness, good fruit and plenty of quality”. Miguel Pessanha is especially satisfied with the 2012 white wines which he claims are the result of an exceptionally cool summer. “They are exceptional white wines! But we mustn’t forget the Rosés, a Sogrape Vinhos’ Miguel Pessanha speciality, which have also had a remarkable year”. Established in 1942 by Fernando van Zeller Guedes, Sogrape Vinhos has been driven by the goal to build a portfolio of quality wines, reinforced by strong Brands with the ability to both attract and compete in a challenging wine world. For over six decades, this quest for excellence has been supported by care and expertise, handed down from generation to generation. Today, this desire to achieve continued excellence is part of Sogrape Vinhos’ commitment for the future. For further information please contact Sogrape Vinhos Press Relations Tel: +351 22 785 03 00 [email protected] www.sograpevinhos.eu Be responsible. Drink in Moderation. .