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Last Sunday, August 12, on San Martin subarea from the D.O.Vinos de Madrid, harvest started, as usual, with the autoctonous variety albillo.

Despite the low rainfall this winter and the extreme drought this year, followed by an unusual spring, the state of health is very good.

The vegetative start came two weeks later than usual, around the second week of March for the albillo, and the second week of April for the tempranillo and grenache in the Arganda and Navalcarnero subarea. Therefore, the vegetative cycle has a delay of fifteen days in regards to the previous year.

Summer is being warmer and drier in regards to recent years which favors an absence of fungal diseases. Regarding production, counting with all these parameters, it will be around 20% less compared to a normal harvest (berry size is also smaller); although this harvest will be compensated by 2011 harvest, with an intense hailstorm that hit vineyards in Arganda subarea. The harvest is estimated in nearly 15,000,000 kgs. and will be probably generalized during the second week of September.

For more information: prensa@vinosdemadrid.es