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By the end of the month of August the grapevines that sprinkle all Spanish geography begin to reach their point of maturity. It is, therefore, the moment for harvest, an ancestral tradition that has in the last years become synonymous of celebration. In each wine locality the end of the summer means exaltation of wine and sense of expectancy in view of the quality of the new harvest. And it is not strange that in a country that counts with more than 70 denominations of origin each place contributes a "different touch" to its harvest.
In Andalusia, in the Denomination of Origin of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, the harvest took place at the end of August, with grapes of "excellent" quality and an increase of the production of 15 percent with respect to the harvest of the previous year, surpassing the one hundred million kilograms of grapes. In the bordering Denomination of Origin of Montilla Moriles, the spectators could enjoy during the first week of September of a day of open doors in seven wineries of the region, of the popular "Pisá" of the grape and the offering of the first must of the harvest the Virgin of the Vines.
Worse times are lived in the Denominations of Origin located in Castilla La Mancha, like the one of Valdepeñas or Mentrida, since the abundant storms and the floods have caused a reduction of the harvest of more than 20 %. However, the quality of the product is considered to be high, due to the excellent weather that the vineyards have enjoyed during almost all the grape harvest.
In the neighbour Castilla y León the storms, along with the "topillos", rodents that have invaded the vineyards of the Autonomous Community during the summer, have been the responsible of the decrease of production from between 5 and a 10%. Nevertheless, that data will not prevent that the famous celebration of Riberjoven in Peñafiel, pertaining to the DO Ribera del Duero, is celebrated at the beginning of October. This festivity tries to approach the wine culture to the new generations.
In La Rioja, nevertheless, the grapes present a superb sanitary state, according to what have affirmed the people in charge of the Regulating Council of the Denomination of Origin, where they have already begun the harvesting of the white grapes. In Logroño, in the third week of September, native and foreigners enjoyed the celebration of the Riojan harvest, coinciding with the celebration of San Mateo. In those dates the offer of the first must to the Virgin of Valvanera, patron saint of the Autonomous Community, is done by the major vintager.
In Aragón the harvest is being developed without complications in some denominations like Somontano or Cariñena. This last one just finished celebrating its 75 anniversary through a glamorous celebration of the harvest. In it, after the popular footstep of the grape, it came to the lighting of the Fountain of wine, of which it sprout wine for the neighbours.
One and thousand forms to receive the new wine.
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