The 2009 vintage is in full swing
The new vineyards and less adverse weather conditions makes the Regulatory Council´s forecasts for this vintage be set in the region of 1.3 million litres.
The frenzied activity in vineyards and wineries throughtout Biscay shows that the 2009 vintage is in fully swing. During these days, the grape passes from the vine to the presses to become the must that, after fermentation in the vats, will become the txakoli that we will begin to enjoy within three to four months time.
This means that more than 1.7 million kilos of grapes will be harvested between this and next week in the 338 hectares of vineyards admitted under the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Bizkaiko Txakolina.
Although the signs suggest that the 2009 harvest will be the largest since, in 1994 when the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée was recognised, this production increase is due more to the growth of the surface area earmarked for vineyards than the yield per hectare. Whereas in 2008 there were 276 hectares of vineyards controlled by the Regulatory Council, this year the vineyard surface area has risen to 338 hectares.
A very humid Summer
Unstable and variable weather conditions such as we have in Biscay makes winegrowing a very difficult task. "It has been one thing after the other. Strange though it may seem it would be unusual in a year for no problem to crop up -sums up a winegrower-. To make a go of a vineyard in Biscay requires much more dedication and investment that in other neighbouring wine-producing areas".
For example, this year, the fact that Spring has been good and which has allowed the proper flowering, however, Summer has been exceedingly humid, which has meant intensifying the battle against the dreaded fungi such as mildew and botrytis cinerea. And the truth is that although it has hardly rained in August, everyday, with the exception of four, the relative humidity was above than 90%.
After several days of a drier atmosphere, the storms arrived in mid-September at the time when the grapes were just ripe enough, which meant a new setback. Fortunately, these last weeks of sun and hot southerly winds has enabled the bunches to heal and acquire the appropriate degree.
All things considered, the vintage has not been particularly productive in terms of kilos per hectare, but the grape has reached the end of its cycle enjoying an excellent state of optimal health and degree of maturity. The signs indicate that in a few months we can enjoy a magnificent txakoli.
