2026 Harvest: A Year of Contrasts in the Douro

The 2026 growing season brought very different conditions to the Douro Valley vineyards. After a rainy winter, spring and summer were marked by high temperatures and little rainfall. The heat accelerated vine development and brought forward grape ripening, making the choice of the right harvest date particularly important.

At Quevedo, harvest began on 31 July at Quinta da Alegria and ended on 9 October. Production was around 12% higher than in 2025, in a year when closely monitoring each vineyard plot was essential to making the most of the best harvesting conditions.

Despite the heat and some challenges throughout the growing season, we harvested healthy grapes with relatively small berries, deep colour and intense aromas. Sugar levels were also higher than in recent years, leaving us optimistic about the potential of this year’s wines.

Harvest timing made all the difference. Picking earlier helped preserve the freshness of the grapes destined for Douro DOC wines, while those harvested later showed particularly promising potential for Port wines.

Now, the work continues in the winery. We expect concentrated wines with good colour, ripe fruit and an expressive aromatic profile. It is still too early to draw any definite conclusions, but the first signs are promising.

Every harvest tells a different story, and the best way to discover it is to experience the process first-hand. With our Harvest Experience, we invite you to discover the work that takes place in the vineyards and winery, and to learn more about the wines born in the Douro Valley.

We hope to see you next year!