2024 Douro Mid-Harvest Report

The 2024 Douro harvest showing great promise

 

With our 2024 harvest over halfway complete, we are on track to have an exceptional vintage across our estates in the Douro Valley. Following a succession of challenging growth cycles marked by erratic rainfall and prolonged heatwaves across the region, this viticultural year has seen average levels of accumulated rainfall and close to (or marginally below) average temperatures. As a result, flowering and veraison began on dates that are considered more normal in the Douro – 6th May for the former and from 8-15th July for the latter at Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim in the heart of the region. 

 

While global climate records have been broken this year (with the hottest April ever recorded – 1.58°C above the pre-industrial average), the Douro has enjoyed more moderate conditions that are in line with the 30-year average. This has led to gradual ripening of the grapes with balanced sugar and acidity, without the excesses that we have become accustomed to over the last few years. Although there was no rain in August, our vineyards have been healthy with maturations advancing steadily, thanks to the sustenance provided by the soil water reserves from the generous rainfall earlier in the growing season. 

 

Our harvest started in the Douro on 22nd August with Viosinho white grapes at our high-altitude vineyards. We started picking earlier ripening red grape varieties – Sousão, Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, and old mixed vines – from 9th September. Weather conditions during the first half of September have been near perfect, delivering a gradual pace of maturations. As such, this harvest is more in line with the old style of Douro vintages – with a later start than we have seen in recent years, a classic sequence of harvesting different grape varieties, and moderate temperatures with cool nights leading to great phenolic development, colour and excellent acidity. The grapes have arrived at our wineries at an ideal 20-22ºC – requiring no cooling or heating during fermentation, which we have not seen for some years. Total yields have been average or below. 

 

The key barometer for our harvests in the Douro is the quality of the Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. We began harvesting the Nacional across our estates from 16th September with incredibly promising results. Baumés have been a near perfect 13º-14º with balanced acidity, excellent colour and aromas. At the time of writing, we have just started receiving the first few plots of Touriga Franca in our wineries and, if the weather forecast holds, we feel confident that we are on course for a great vintage this year.

 

Charles Symington, Head Winemaker & Production Director