|
|
According to an estimate by the Spanish agricultural insurance company Agroseguro, over 20 percent of Spanish vineyards were affected by extreme weather events in 2024. Currently, the damage reports received by Agroseguro correspond to 175,000 hectares. However, the insurance company anticipates that this area will rise to over 200,000 hectares.
In the coming weeks, more than 250 assessors will evaluate the impacts of the various weather events on the Spanish growing regions in more detail. The largest damages were caused by late frosts in April and May. Particularly vineyards in Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla-León, but also in other growing regions such as Rioja, Catalonia, Basque Country, Aragon, and Navarra were affected. In addition to frost, recurring hailstorms caused enormous damage. The summer months also brought significant drought and heatwaves.
Harvest failures are particularly evident in Aragon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Valencia, and Castilla-La Mancha. In Catalonia, while the situation is very heterogeneous, experts speak of a decline of 35 percent compared to the average harvest amount. The areas of Priorat and Terra Alta are the hardest hit, while in Penedès and some parts of Tarragona, the harvest corresponds to the previous year's amount, according to the agricultural union Unió de Pagesos.
Already last year, Agroseguro paid record compensations to the winemakers.
(ru / Vitisphere)