The Rueda D.O. is preparing for a new grape harvest
The vineyards of the Rueda D.O. are entering the final weeks before one of the most important stages of the year: the grape harvest. The 2026 season is shaped by temperature trends over the summer and by the attention paid by winegrowers and wineries to the ripening of the grapes.
When will the 2026 harvest begin in Rueda?
Although the exact date depends on conditions in each plot and ripeness checks, the usual schedule places the start of the Rueda harvest between mid- and late August. In previous years, the first varieties began to be harvested around this time, whilst the Verdejo was harvested later as it reached the appropriate parameters.
Verdejo, the star of the harvest
The Verdejo grape will once again play a key role in the Rueda harvest. This indigenous variety is the appellation’s flagship and accounts for the majority of the white grapes harvested in the area. In 2024, for example, 88 per cent of the white grapes harvested were Verdejo.
A harvest shaped by the weather
Weather conditions are one of the factors that most influence the optimal time for harvesting. High temperatures can accelerate certain stages of the vine’s growth cycle, whilst a lack of rainfall can alter the rate of ripening. This year, an earlier-than-usual growth cycle has already been observed in other wine-growing regions of Castilla-León.
Night-time harvesting to preserve grape quality
In Rueda, night-time, mechanised harvesting is particularly important, especially for the production of white wines. Harvesting the grapes during the cooler hours of the night ensures they arrive at the winery fresher and helps reduce the risk of oxidation, thereby helping to preserve their characteristics and aromas.
The right time to harvest each plot
The harvest does not necessarily begin at the same time in all vineyards. Ripeness monitoring helps determine when each plot achieves the right balance between sugars, acidity and other parameters that subsequently influence the wine’s characteristics. Therefore, rather than a specific date, the aim is to harvest each grape at its optimum moment.
A new vintage of Verdejo from Rueda
The harvest also marks the start of the journey for the wines that will reach the market over the coming months. For the wineries in the appellation, these weeks encapsulate much of the work carried out throughout the vine’s cycle and signal the beginning of a new vintage of Rueda wines.
The grape harvest, one of the highlights of the year in Rueda
Beyond its importance to the wine sector, the grape harvest forms part of Rueda’s identity. During these weeks, the appellation’s vineyards, wineries and towns experience a particularly intense period of activity that combines tradition, viticulture and winemaking.
