One of the traditional activities in September is the grape harvest. This year, with the summer being so hot and dry, the harvest has come early, and many vineyards have had to be harvested in the last few days of August. As of today, the grape harvest is practically over, whereas years ago we remember harvesting for much of the month of October.
Another notable change in this project has been mechanization... Most of the vineyards are set up for mechanized harvesting, so this work is much faster. Mechanization represents a major leap forward in terms of controlling the grapes that arrive at the winery, since harvesting usually takes place at night (due to lower temperatures), and it also eliminates the labor shortage, which in recent years has become one of the biggest problems (along with drought and high input costs) facing the Spanish agricultural sector.
As for Bodegas Coronado, it is a winery that has been located in our town (La Alberca de Záncara, Cuenca) since 2002. They produce white wines (Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc), red wines (Petit Verdot and Merlot), and sparkling white wine (85% Macabeo and 15% Sauvignon Blanc). For years, they have been receiving awards thanks to the excellent work they are doing, the most important of which was the “Grand Golden Bacchus” awarded in 2023 for their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, which they call “Charcón Alegría.” It is a very prestigious award that not all wineries have received. Bodegas Coronado is the first winery in Cuenca to win it and the third in Castilla-La Mancha.
As for the grape harvest, we encourage you to watch our two videos, in which we explain the process that takes place in the vineyard and, above all, when the grapes arrive at the winery. We also recommend a visit to Bodegas Coronado, where they frequently host wine tastings, guided tours of the vineyards, and very interesting culinary events.
