Facts & Figures

Facts & Figures. Grape Production.

2009 Harvest.

The total crop brought in this year by wineries registered in the Rueda D.O. amounts to almost 60 million kilograms of grapes (a new record crop), of which 57.35 million are white wine varieties.

The surface area of vineyards harvested in this 2009 vintage covers a total of 10,720 hectares (26,478 acres), of which 9,969 hectares (24,623 acres) are planted with white varieties and of which 974 hectares (2,405 acres) came into production in this harvest for the first time. The number of growers registered with the Rueda D.O. is 1,417 while there are 54 wineries. No new bodegas were registered during this vintage.

Very low rainfall was recorded in this year’s growing season from spring on. This, combined with high late August/early September temperatures at the end of the season brought about punishing conditions for the vines, causing speculation that the crop size would be smaller than 2008. However, thanks to a subsequent drop in temperatures and the arrival of rain showers, together with the strong resistance of the rustic and adaptable Verdejo variety and a substantial increase in the surface area of the vineyard, the 2009 vintage produced a record crop size, in which 96% was made up of white wine varietals, most of which was the Verdejo grape variety, with 47 million kilos, representing 82% of the white grapes harvested by the wineries.

The grapes had remained in very good health, thanks to the lack of rain and absence of dampness, which enabled the threat of botrytis or “grey rot” (a disease typically found on grapes during periods of rain or severe dampness) to be kept at bay. Potential alcohol levels were just what the wine-makers wanted, and wineries were able to pick plot by plot, according to their own specific criteria and interest.

The Rueda harvest, which was mostly carried out at night, began with the Sauvignon Blanc variety on the night of August 24th, ten days to two weeks ahead of normal picking dates on account of the hot weather during the last days of August and this varietal’s shorter growing season in 2009. The Rueda harvest got into full swing between the 9th and 26th of September, gradually winding down until these last few days, when the last batches were brought in to make special wines, such as semi-sweet and other types of wine.

Another noteworthy fact is that 88% of the harvest was picked by mechanical harvester. Carried out well, this system of picking is fast becoming an asset for wineries in their search for quality, thanks to the speed of picking and the possibility of harvesting at night-time, without sunlight and with low temperatures. This has resulted in the Rueda appellation becoming one of the most advanced wine regions in Spain.

The Rueda Regulating Council, in addition to its five inspectors already operating in the appellation, took on 44 supervisors for this vintage to keep a watchful eye on the quality and the origin of the grapes, checking their source, the yields in the vineyards, the health and the quantities of the varietals that were brought in to each of the appellation’s wineries, and rejecting those bunches and berries that did not conform to the standards set out in the regulations of the Regulating Council.