September comes to an end, bringing a close to weeks of intense work, technical precision, and coordinated effort in the vineyards of Rioja Oriental. At Fincas de Azabache, we officially mark the end of the 2026 harvest—a historic campaign that began in early August with the night harvesting of Tempranillo Blanco and now concludes after completing the picking of our red and higher-altitude varieties.

With the hoppers empty and the tractors at rest, activity in Aldeanueva de Ebro hasn't stopped; it has simply shifted from the fields into the winery.

Campaign Review: A Vintage Defined by Demands and Quality

The 2026 harvest will be remembered as one of the earliest and most demanding in recent years. The advanced vegetative growth brought on by summer heat required our technical team to intensify ripening controls and adapt harvesting schedules accordingly.

Thanks to the strategic decision to execute night and early-morning harvests for the most delicate varieties, the fruit arrived at the winery in flawless sanitary condition—keeping acidity, aromatic freshness, and polyphenolic balance fully intact.

• High-End Whites: Fermentations for Tempranillo Blanco, Viura, and Verdejo are progressing with promising aromatic intensity.

• Red Varieties: The gradual arrival of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano shows color concentration and structure ideally suited for crafting our Premium and aged wines.

From Vineyard to Winery: Fermentations Underway

With all grapes now received, our winemakers take center stage. The musts are currently undergoing alcoholic fermentation and maceration in stainless steel tanks under strict temperature control.

This meticulous work aims to extract the maximum expression of Aldeanueva de Ebro's terroir before moving on to rackings and eventual barrel aging.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the winegrowers, technicians, and workers whose dedication made it possible to complete the 2026 harvest successfully. The fruit of the land is now safely stored; now, it is time to transform this hard work into the new vintage of Fincas de Azabache.