With the change of cycle this spring, the vineyards are breathing again
NADAL ESTATE, July 20th, 2024
For several years, extreme weather conditions have shown no respite. Over three and a half consecutive years of unprecedented drought have left rainfall levels at only about 50% of what is common at Nadal Estate and in the Penedès wine region. Fortunately, today, July 20th, 2024, after gentle and continuous rains in recent months, we can affirm that Nadal Estate will continue practicing dry-farmed viticulture, relying solely on rainwater to properly ripen the grapes.
Indeed, the climate has caused water stress for the vines, often leading us to think that dry-farmed viticulture in Penedès, the most sustainable method that best highlights the climatic imprint in each vintage, was nearing its end. This drought has not only drastically reduced production in recent years, but some farmers have faced the unprecedented and unusual situation of vines dying prematurely due to lack of water.
The good news is that the recent weather has provided relief to these heavily affected lands. From January to June of this year, our estate has received 273 liters of low-intensity rain, allowing the soil to be thoroughly soaked without practically losing any water. This figure surpasses the usual average for this period, which is 236 liters.
Additionally, spring temperatures have been slightly below the average of the past 25 years, minimizing evaporation and favouring slow vegetation growth. These excellent conditions contrast with the previous years of very sparse and often overly intense rains, especially in autumn when a water reserve in the soil is needed to ensure a good bud break at the beginning of spring.
Accumulated rainfall during recent springs at Nadal Estate.
Adapting to droughts
At the end of 2022, after the minimal rains of previous autumns, we assessed the state of our estate to establish a new way of working and cultivating the vines, which were already showing signs of drought stress. Implementing shorter pruning to generate less grape production and other techniques to preserve the low soil moisture has allowed us to reach 2024 harvest with an unimaginable good state of our vineyards.
Fortunately, we can consider the most challenging period we have experienced on our estate to be over. However, we are aware that these droughts will become more frequent, so the planting criteria for the new vineyards will differ from what we have maintained until recently. We will continue to rely on grafted native varieties but always on rootstocks highly resistant to drought. In the new planting designs, we will reduce competition for water among the vines, making them stronger and more resilient.
All this allows us to be optimistic and affirm that, with optimal planning and management of our vineyards, we will be able to maintain this dry-farmed and organic viticulture. This approach reinforces the fundamental organoleptic characteristics of the corpinnat sparkling wines and white wines that are born each year at Nadal de la Boadella estate.
