Spain

In most of Spain a mild dry winter was followed by a warm and very dry spring. There were no significant frost losses and the flowering went well. As in the rest of Europe there were a few storms in the early summer but the fungal disease pressure was much lower than elsewhere. However, August was shockingly hot, with successive periods where the thermometer was stuck over 40°C. This desiccating heat had a profound effect on the size of the 2023 crop, reducing it significantly from what had been projected earlier in the year. The first white grapes were picked in the middle of August with the key Tempranillo harvest at Bodegas Medievo in Rioja starting on 5th September. The odd downpour in September brought welcome relief from the drought and reinvigorated the ripening process. Everything was picked by the end of September. From a quality perspective most producers are happy with their wines. The big issue is quantity. The most recent national estimate has the crop at 33 million hectolitres, down 18% on 2022 and down 23% against the five year average.