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4 clusters · 14 sources · 31 days · First seen · Last updated

Drought and heat accelerate grape harvests in Croatia

Overview

Extreme heat and prolonged drought conditions continue to impact grape harvests across Croatia and neighboring regions, accelerating ripening processes and shifting harvest timelines.

In Vrbnik, a lack of rainfall for nearly 70 days has challenged the Žlahtina variety, causing necrotic leaves and a chemical imbalance where sugar levels rise rapidly while acidity drops. In the Slavonia region, specifically Brodsko-posavska County and Vinkovci, high temperatures have shifted harvest timelines approximately one month earlier than in previous decades. While yields are lower due to lack of rainfall, high quality is expected, with Pinot Noir already being harvested and Graševina requiring close monitoring of sugar and acid levels.

As harvests reach final stages in areas such as Poreč, the Institute for Agriculture and Tourism reports that while drought has reduced yields, grape health and quality remain high. Similarly, in southern Republika Srpska, intense heat and drought have caused earlier maturation.

Harvests have now concluded in several parts of the Balkans. In Herzegovina, significant water shortages particularly affected young vineyards, though indigenous varieties like Žilavka and Blatina showed resilience. Enologists noted that climate change is making adaptation “increasingly critical” for future local production.

In the Međimurje region, the season concluded with the Pušipel variety. Despite facing hail, drought, and grapevine golden nematode, producers reported growing market demand for these local varieties over international standards like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. The resurgence of Pušipel follows a 15-year protection project initiated by Međimurje County and the Agronomic Faculty in Zagreb.

Entities

Vinkovci · Zvonimir Paulenka · Vrbnik · Međimurje · Herzegovina

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 9 sources
    Balkan grape harvests conclude amid climate challenges

    Winemakers in Herzegovina and Međimurje have completed grape harvests despite facing extreme weather, drought, and hail, while highlighting the resilience of indigenous grape varieties.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Grape harvests in Republika Srpska and Croatia face drought

    Grape harvests in southern Republika Srpska and Poreč are concluding early due to heat and drought, with producers noting high grape quality despite reduced yields in some areas.

  3. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Slavonia grape harvest advances due to heat and drought

    Climate conditions including high temperatures and drought have moved the grape harvest in Croatia's Slavonia region forward by about a month, with vintners focusing on quality despite lower yields.

  4. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Vrbnik grape harvest faces challenges from drought and heat

    Prolonged drought and extreme temperatures in Vrbnik are threatening the Žlahtina grape harvest, leading to lower acidity, higher sugar levels, and expected below-average yields.

Sources

agronews.rs · atvbl.rs · dan.co.me · eventbrite.co.uk · glasistre.hr · magazin.hrt.hr · mostarski.ba · novosti.hr · poduzetnistvo.org · pogled.ba · radiobijelopolje.me · radiong.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr · wannabemagazine.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history