2024 Harvest – Vlassides Vineyards

The winery staff’s summer holidays ended earlier than usual this year due to the early harvest of the 2024 vintage, which began in the last ten days of July and concluded in mid-October.

The total rainfall in the region for the period October 2023 – September 2024 amounted to 585 mm, marking a decrease of over 20% compared to the previous year. Rainfall was unevenly distributed, with relatively high levels during the winter months—especially in January and February—and significantly lower levels during spring and summer. In contrast, 2023 recorded notably higher precipitation in both autumn and spring. This shift played a decisive role in shaping the cultivation conditions of the 2024 vintage.

The mild winter favored an early start to the vegetative cycle. Elevated temperatures combined with low spring rainfall—particularly in late April and early May 2024—accelerated flowering and led to reduced fruit set, resulting in a 20% to 50% drop in yield across many of the winery’s varieties.

From veraison through to harvest, temperatures were noticeably higher than seasonal norms. The prolonged drought from June to August 20th minimized fungal infections in the vineyard, contributed to rapid sugar accumulation in the grapes, preserved high levels of organic acids in white varieties, and promoted increased phenolic concentrations in reds. From late August to the end of harvest, temperatures dropped below average, slowing down ripening—especially in red grape varieties.

Phenological stages of the 2024 vintage (early-ripening varieties):

• Budbreak: mid-March
• Flowering: early May
• Veraison: early July
• Harvest: last ten days of July