Rioja Alavesa in the province of Álava reports the earliest grape harvest in the documented history of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja. According to the regional government, by mid-September around 40 million kilograms of grapes had been harvested at wineries in the area. The regional minister responsible for the department, Amaia Barredo cited sustained high temperatures and a lack of rainfall as the main drivers of accelerated ripening.
On 13 September, Barredo said at the XXXI. Fiesta de la Vendimia in Kripán that alcoholic ripeness is currently advancing faster than phenolic ripeness. This calls for more precise timing of the harvest to safeguard quality and style. She cited Labastida as an example, where the start of the harvest had moved forward by more than two weeks compared with the 25-year average.
The Consejo Regulador of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja confirmed in its latest ripening monitoring report that sugar levels were rising rapidly while total acidity was falling. At the same time, the grapes were generally in good condition. This assessment is consistent with observations in the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, where heatwaves and dry spells have measurably shifted the vineyard cycle.
The regional government points to changes in cultivation: the institute Neiker and regional cooperation projects are working on irrigation management, canopy management, preservation of old grape varieties and knowledge-sharing among growers. The aim is to combine reliable yields with top quality under changing climatic conditions.
Stocks at wineries in Álava have fallen, from 2.51 million to 2.18 million hectolitres between the 2023–2024 and 2025–2026 campaigns, a drop of around 330,000 hectolitres, or 13 per cent. The government sees this as an opportunity to bring new wines to market more quickly, but calls for legally compliant contract and payment deadlines. Supply contracts must be registered before the first delivery; inspections in the sector have recently increased by 30 per cent.
Barredo also called for stronger market development to stabilise value creation in the region. Producers’ associations expect a short, concentrated harvest period. Forecasts for the final harvest remain cautious, as changes in the weather could still affect the last plots. What is clear is that in 2026 the vendimia in Rioja Alavesa is starting significantly earlier than usual, with notable consequences for harvest planning, wine style and the market.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).