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This photographic report in La Vanguardia's Readers' Photos shows images of the harvest in Olèrdola, in the Penedès, in a year in which it has been brought forward again due to the drought.
This year it began on August 4, a historic date, like last year. 35 years ago the grape harvest began on September 15.
This 2023, the severe drought has conditioned the entire harvest, with an approximate drop of 45% in the harvest, advancing the harvest, in the early Chardonnay and Pinot noir varieties. They then sell the harvest of the other varieties, which include the typical ones from Penedès: xarel·lo, macabeo and parellada.
The harvest is expected to end in mid-September. This year's harvest is also marked by the absence of fungi: the fruit is healthy.
Although the harvest is mostly carried out with harvesting machines, we still find vineyards where it is harvested by hand, with harvesters.
Harvesting with a harvesting machine begins early, in the early morning, very dark, to keep the fruit fresh.
In the book Folklore of the Penedès by Pere Sadurní Vallès we find many sayings in Catalan related to the harvest, which are still valid today:
