DROUGHT AND HEAT COULD AFFECT WINE PRODUCTION IN THE DOURO IN 2022

The hydric stress on the vine and the intense heat could cause a “remarkable drop in production” in the Douro vineyards. The year 2022 is therefore a year of uncertainty for the oldest demarcated and regulated region in the world — the Douro.

“What we’ve found was that the very high temperatures led to shatter (coulure) [a physiological incident in which the flower does not evolve into fruit], the dryness led to a lesser expansion of the leaves and smaller grape berries”, explained Rosa Amador, director-general of ADVID.

At the moment, “production is no longer considered to be able to reach the minimum estimate of 262.000 barrels of wine”. “It is still very difficult to make a prediction of what the break will be”, she admitted. The past week was one of “scorched conditions”, in which the grape berry may have been burnt.

On the other hand, 2022 is a year without problems in terms of diseases and pests in the vineyard.

The greatest difficulties can be felt in the Douro Superior and in the lower areas of Cima Corgo.

Let us remember that the national record for the maximum temperature (47ºC) for the month of July was beaten exactly in Pinhão, the heart of the Douro demarcated area.