July comes alive with color in Rioja Oriental. Following weeks of sustained growth and fruit set, our estates become the stage for one of viticulture's most visually striking and fascinating phenomena: veraison.

At Fincas de Azabache, this moment marks a turning point in the annual cycle of the vine. The grape leaves its initial green behind to begin its final transformation, gracing us with strokes of purple, violet, and reddish tones in the red varieties, and golden, translucent nuances in the whites.

What is Veraison and What Happens in the Vineyard in July?

Veraison is, essentially, the "puberty" of the grape. The plant stops increasing the size of the cluster and begins concentrating all its energy on ripening and sugar accumulation. During this month, our field team steps up monitoring through precision viticulture:

• Color change and polyphenol synthesis: Chlorophyll begins to vanish from the skin of the berries, making way for natural pigments. In our red varieties such as Tempranillo or Garnacha, anthocyanins appear—the compounds directly responsible for the deep color of our future wines.

• Appearance of uneven veraison: During the first days of July, it is common to see clusters where green and red grapes coexist. It is a gradual and fascinating process that requires patience and stable weather conditions.

• Berry softening and sugar accumulation: The skin of the grape becomes thinner and more elastic. The fruit naturally begins to lose acidity while accumulating the sugars and aromas that will define the oenological profile of the vintage.

Vineyard Management Amidst a Demanding Summer

This year, veraison is progressing against a backdrop of extreme temperatures—a thermal challenge testing the resilience of the vines. More than ever, hands-on work in the vineyards of Aldeanueva de Ebro proves decisive.

Through cover crop management and careful canopy shading, our vine growers protect the grape clusters from direct heat stroke, preserving the freshness, acid balance, and aromatic potential of the grapes. From this point forward, we launch periodic ripening controls to carefully calculate the timeline for the upcoming harvest.