Castell d’Or cooperative groups embark on a challenging grape harvest marked by drought

The extra effort required by farmers to confront the consequences of extreme weather conditions

Tarragona. 23 d’agost 2023.-The majority of the 16 cooperatives that constitute the Castell d’Or group have started one of the most crucial stages of the year: the grape harvest, the phase of fruit collection that marks the culmination of the entire cycle of growth and dedication to the vine. This harvest comes in a complex context due to the extreme drought that has affected the entire agricultural sector of Catalonia.

Although it is still early to confirm figures, Castell d’Or also anticipates a production decline of between 40% and 50%, particularly affecting those cooperatives located in the Penedès region, but with significant impacts also in the Alt Camp and Conca de Barberà areas.

The lack of water has drastically affected certain production areas,  in some vineyards part of the grapes had to be cut without waiting for them to ripen in order to salvage the remainder or to enable the vines to survive. These last-minute measures are traumatic for the plant and can compromise the volume of next year’s production since the vine needs to be in an optimal state to face a new cycle normally.

In this unprecedented context, Castell d’Or’s CEO, Jordi Amell, aims to shed light on “the sacrifice that farmers undertake to confront this crisis after an entire year of dedication” and stresses “their strong spirit and readiness to face difficulties.” He highlights “the necessity to recognize the extra effort made by farmers in dealing with challenges in the production of cava,” both from private and public perspectives. Castell d’Or is a group composed of a total of 16 cooperatives that, to varying degrees, will have to strive to overcome this situation.

Nevertheless, Castell d’Or hopes to have the grapes with the necessary standards, level of alcohol content, phenolic maturity, and suitable acidity to produce all the products it has available in the market. They also consider that ‘we are truly facing a challenge on the part of cooperatives and the sector to adapt to climatic conditions and ensure the future viability of the operations”.