Spain has suffered from a serious water-shortage all year that will reduce wine production by 14%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture; however, it will have a beneficial effect on the actual grapes. Reuters has been informed that “the quality will be fantastic because there is no disease, the grapes are exceptional” by Manuel Sánchez, a wine expert from the farmers union COAG. According to Sánchez, the union anticipates a reduction in grape harvest of 25%.

The drought brings the advantage of a better quality of fruit, since disease and fungus do not propagate in a dry climate and because the fewer mature grapes on the vine, the greater the sugar concentration, the colour and other essential properties that determine the quality of the wine. Sánchez confirms this: “As a general rule, a warm, dry year brings a harvest of high quality.”

Although, the water-shortage will mean yield reductions in Penedès and el Ribera del Duero, in Rioja, our more international designation of origin does not anticipate the drought significantly affecting the prices or the wine. According to the region’s regulatory council, the vineyard is in a good vegetative and sanitary state indicating that production will be of high quality, they do not expect any changes in grape development.