2024 Harvest Report at Cerro Chapeu: Climatic Conditions, Yield, and Vintage Profile
The 2024 harvest at Cerro Chapeu was marked by a combination of climatic factors that influenced both the quality and volume of the crop. Throughout this report, we will analyze how the spring rains, the reduction in grape volume, and the proper ripening of the varieties managed to strike a balance between climatic challenges and the production of high-quality wines.
1. Climate Impacts
The spring of 2023 began with a frost that affected 5% of the buds, followed by heavy rains that totaled 1200 millimeters between September and December. Despite the amount of rainfall, the sandy, reddish, and deep soils, characterized by their low fertility and excellent drainage, allowed the vines to cope well with the excess water. This helped mitigate the impact on grape development, although the humidity reduced the size of the clusters and the weight of the berries.
Despite these difficulties, the reduction in production was not critical, and the fruit left on the vines ripened well, especially after the rains ceased in January. This allowed the process of veraison and grape ripening to develop under optimal conditions.
2. Harvest Size
Due to the spring climatic conditions, total production decreased by approximately 25% compared to the historical average. In some cases, such as with the white grapes, this decrease reached up to 30%. However, the smaller number of clusters facilitated vineyard management, allowing the fruit to be more exposed and avoiding issues with botrytis and rot.
3. Vintage Characteristics
As for the white grapes, production was lower, but quality remained high, especially in varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, although the latter had a harvest closer to normal. In the case of the red grapes, despite the reduction in cluster weight, they achieved proper ripening.
The 2024 harvest concluded before the March rains, which allowed all varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, to be harvested in perfect sanitary condition and with good ripeness. This has resulted in high-quality wines that reflect both the precise management of the vineyard and the unique characteristics of the vintage.
Conclusion
Although the 2024 harvest at Cerro Chapeu was less abundant due to the spring rains, the subsequent climatic conditions allowed the grapes to ripen correctly. The final quality of the wines promises to be outstanding, thanks to the health of the fruit and vineyard management, which helps maintain the characteristic style of Cerro Chapeu.