2010 – 31,686,516 kilos picked:
A very wet spring right up to the time of flowering, followed by virtually no rain for the months of July, August and September. The result, despite ‘green harvesting’, was the biggest vintage on record, producing a very good wine, nicely balanced, but owing to the volume, perhaps not quite the same concentration as our 2009.
2009 – 23,624,086 kilos picked:
Another unsettled spring and summer rescued by hot weather during August and indeed, right up until harvest time. The resulting wine displays an excellent balance between fruit and acidity – perhaps even a perfect balance. It could be that 2009 will provide our bodega with some of its best ever wines!
2008 – 19,897,377 kilos picked:
A cool damp spring and late, slightly uneven flowering made 2008 a difficult vintage. The unsettled weather continued throughout the summer, with only July offering a period of sustained warmth. The skills of the winemaker certainly come to the fore, resulting in a good wine, with a fresh, zesty acidity that typifies the albariño grape.
2007 - 18,736,895 kilos picked:
After a wet summer the vintage was saved by a hot September. Volumes were nearly 40% down on 2006 producing very unctuous grape musts, and consequently rich, concentrated wines. The poor quantity is almost inevitably compensated by high quality.
2006 - 30,610,100 kilos picked:
Following a summer of raging forest fires, the 2006 vintage turned out to be the largest on record. Naturally, with such high yields, the wines are perhaps not quite as concentrated as in other years, but nonetheless they enjoy a good balance, with attractive ripe fruit flavours.
2005 - 21,886,913 kilos picked:
After an almost textbook growing season we experienced yet another plentiful harvest. If last year’s wine was ripe and slightly atypical, then 2005 is altogether a better-balanced vintage. natural acidity levels from the vineyard required little adjustment in the cellar.
2004 - 22,754,758 kilos picked:
Producers were worried by a very wet August, but with temperatures of 30ºC for three weeks of September, sugar levels increased dramatically, an all time record harvest was produced. The resulting wine is very ripe, fruity and full-bodied, in some ways a-typical Albariño, but a very consumer friendly style nonetheless.
2003 – 16,420,298 kilos picked:
After an extremely hot August yet another bumper harvest was produced. Not quite as rich as 2001, but with a more pronounced fruit and not quite as “angular” as the 2002. Lower acidity than 2002 and consequently probably a better-balanced vintage.
2002 – 13,253,242 kilos picked:
Slightly less than the record year of 2001, but still a very respectable volume. Not a hot summer, but with sufficient sunshine to yield healthy fruit and good sugar levels. Typified by a bright acidity and clean, herbaceous, green apple fruit.
2001 – 16,814,166 kilos picked:
Every wine makers dream: the biggest harvest for 15 years of high quality, healthy fruit. Sugar levels were high, but so, unfortunately were grape prices. However, after some erratic vintages, Bodegas were just happy to see their tanks full.
2000 – 8,499,771 kilos picked:
A difficult vintage with reduced yields owing to rain during the flowering period. With some incidence of mildew, this was certainly the year of the wine maker – ours managed to produce a good wine!
1999 – 12,473,602 kilos picked:
A “vintage” vintage for the Bodega. After the disastrously small 1998 harvest we were blessed with a large harvest of very good quality – so good in fact that our Albariño won many prizes, including Galicia’s Acio de Ouro.
1998 – 3,469,487 kilos picked:
As the figures indicate a very, very small crop. After three successive vintages of good quantity, the weakened vines were hit by a late spring frost, burning the young shoots on the plant. Many vines did not have the strength to bud again, hence the feeble crop. Conversely, as is often the case, a small crop, but of high quality.
1997 – 8,174,465 kilos picked:
Despite problems during the summer (some grapes were lost to mildew) the vintage was saved by excellent weather in late August, early September. A high degree of sugar and low natural acidity, in the end, produced quality wine.
1996 – 9,776,117 kilos picked:
A “waiting” vintage, when patience paid off. A slow and late maturation meant that picking did not commence until almost October. The resulting wine was good, if not a little high in acidity.
1995 – 9,892,747 kilos picked:
A very good harvest, typified by an early start to picking (Sept 5th). Excellent quality grapes produced a wine of exceptional balance and finesse.
Authors note:
Although the kilos picked has increased steadily over recent years, much of this is simply due to the unerring growth of the denomination as a whole. The average yields usually vary between 5,500 and 6.000 kg per hectare.
Many wine regions in Spain use an official qualification of vintages to indicate quality D: Deficient R: Regular B: Good MB: Very good E: Excellent
In an area such as Galicia, where we not only have a wide geographical divide between north and south, but also have numerous different microclimates, we do not endorse this system, but prefer to send detailed vintage reports to our customers.