The seasons in the planet’s temperate zones, particularly in Portugal, bring with them changes in temperature and daylight hours over the months of the year. For the vine, these changes are the signals that lead it to hibernate, bud, flower, and, finally, set fruit. As for the producers, these changes lead them to intervene in the vineyard and the vines, pruning, nurturing, and caring for them, until the tasks culminate in the harvest. It’s a cycle that repeats itself every year.

Harvesting the grapes, the only fruit with its own name, is a challenging task! We have to wait for the right moment to do it; only then can we be sure of doing it in the best possible way. The grape harvest has no fixed date; it’s the weather conditions that determine whether it happens sooner or later. Therefore, at Quinta da Raza, ripening is monitored from mid-August and the harvest usually takes place between the middle of that month and the end of September, as soon as the grapes reach the ideal level of ripeness for the harvest, i.e. when the balance between sugar and acids is perfect. To get there, you have to analyze, taste and observe!

The year 2024 was very favorable for the vineyards. The humidity levels and temperatures were right for us to start harvesting on August 22. The grapes looked radiant, as they say, “breathing health”. The varieties with the shortest vegetative cycle, and therefore the first to be harvested, already had a flavor that predicted good wines. We’re talking about Gouveio, Padeiro, and Trajadura. The Azal and Espadeiro, which have a longer cycle, are usually the last to arrive at the winery. However, the waiting time enhanced the aromas and no one in the winery was indifferent to the quality of these grapes.

Maintaining a good rhythm was essential so that, when the first rains came in September, the grapes were already safely inside the winery, transformed into must and fermenting. At this point, there was little left to do before we could finally confirm our expectations of an excellent harvest.

It was almost five weeks of intense work, but fortunately the traditional spirit of camaraderie and responsibility of the whole team once again came to the fore so that the ultimate goal could be achieved: the production of excellent wines. We are perfectly aware that, in this business, we only get one chance a year to do things right.

A toast to the entire Quinta da Raza team and to our demanding customers who motivate us to do better every year!