The 2016 Harvest to commence in the D.O. Montilla-Moriles August 2nd

Pedro Ximenez grapes close to harvest – Photo courtesy of Bodegas Robles

This evening sees the start of the harvest in the Denominación de Origen Montilla-Moriles, traditionally the 1st in Europe.

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo and Moscatel will be the first varieties harvested which will produce the first musts of 2016. These are followed by the red varieties with the native Pedro Ximenez variety the last harvested.

Early indications are that the yield will be 57 million kilos of which 50 million are white grapes. This is a 4 million kilo increase on the 2015 harvest amount of 46 million kilos.

The asoleado or soleo process for drying the Pedro Ximenez grapes

We will be in Montilla during this years harvest festival in September and hope to participate in some of the associated activities. In particular we are looking forward to see the asoleado process first hand.