We have two acres in a 900+ acre vineyard operation in the high-altitude Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. Those two acres make us micro-producers, and we’re not immune to what happens at the finca — from farming to harvesting to economic conditions and all the climate effects in between.
We receive reports periodically on happenings in and around the vineyard. On this winemaking journey, many ask, for example, about the farming realities of this project. So we think it fitting to share some of that information with you from time to time.
What follows is information from The Vines of Mendoza team about the 2026 harvest that concluded in March. In short, it was a tough harvest. Hail, not previously a problem for us in the Uco Valley, is increasingly challenging, affecting yields and fruit conditions, and may require deployment of netting in the future (which would introduce a new set of operational and economic challenges). Nevertheless, while we anticipate a lower yield relative to grapes we sell (we’re not making wine with all of our grapes), we did yield enough high-quality fruit for, and are excited about, our 2026 Cab Franc Rosé and our white blend that Pablo and Mariana are helping us produce, which we expect to receive next spring (in the meantime, you can enjoy or 2025 and prior vintages — just sayin’) :
Harvest Overview
The 2026 harvest concluded under exceptionally challenging weather and production conditions across the Uco Valley. A total of 688,000 kg was harvested across The Vines, including 308,000 kg ultimately processed at The Vines winery and 380,000 kg delivered to external wineries.
Key Harvest Figures: Successive hail events throughout the growing cycle significantly reduced vineyard yields and affected fruit condition across multiple sectors of the property. Despite the reduced volume, vineyard and winery operations proceeded under intensified selection protocols to maintain minimum quality standards for vinification.
Climatic Conditions and Hail Events: The 2026 vintage developed under a markedly different climatic profile compared to the previous two seasons. January began with significant rainfall, followed by a drier February, while March brought more than 60 mm (2.3 inches) of rain across the finca — an unusually high figure for Mendoza. Unlike recent years, there were no major heatwaves, and diurnal temperature shifts remained strong throughout the season.
Under different circumstances, this could have been one of the most favorable vintages from a climatic perspective. The impact of hail, however, changed that outcome. Multiple hail events during the growing season had a substantial impact on both yield and fruit condition across the vineyards. Damage levels varied considerably between sectors depending on storm intensity, timing, and vineyard exposure. The cumulative effect of these events created a highly heterogeneous production environment, requiring continuous monitoring and adaptive management throughout the season.
Production and Selection Results: Following the hail events, slightly more than 1 million kg of remaining fruit was generated. Rigorous selection standards were applied both in the vineyard and at the winery to preserve fruit quality and maintain vinification parameters. Approximately 350,000 kg of fruit entered winery intake and selection processes during the 2026 harvest. Following additional sorting and quality selection, 308,000 kg was ultimately processed at The Vines winery. The fruit was hand-harvested in approximately 25,000 boxes, with an average weight of 14 kg per box, significantly below the standard 17 kg average. This difference reflected the intensified field selection required to separate healthy fruit from clusters affected by hail damage and related deterioration. More than 30% of the harvested fruit was discarded during the selection process due to hail damage, dehydration, rot development, insufficient ripening, and loss of structural integrity associated with the season’s weather conditions.
The same selection standards were applied by external wineries receiving fruit from The Vines.
Remaining Fruit and Vineyard Recovery: A limited quantity of fruit remained on the vines in certain vineyard sectors. Although initially estimated at approximately 150,000 kg, the effective recoverable volume was reduced by dehydration, sun exposure, and progressive deterioration to roughly 50,000 kg. Given that this fruit no longer met minimum quality requirements for vinification, it was not harvested. Instead, it was reincorporated into the soil as organic material. This approach formed part of the vineyard recovery strategy following a season of significant climatic stress.
Market Context & Economic Impact: International wine markets continue to experience high inventory levels and weaker demand across several key producing and consuming regions. Structural oversupply remains a significant factor globally, including in traditional wine-producing countries where vineyard removal programs are currently being implemented. Under these market conditions, reduced harvest volumes alone are not expected to generate significant upward pressure on grape prices. From an economic standpoint, the combination of lower yields, increased selection losses, and continued pricing pressure will result in reduced grape credits for vineyard owners compared to previous vintages.
Vintage Context and Long-Term Outlook: The 2026 season forms part of a broader sequence of increasingly complex climatic conditions affecting viticulture in Mendoza in recent years. Severe hail in 2023 was followed by extremely hot, dry growing seasons in 2024 and 2025, while 2026 brought cooler, wetter conditions combined with renewed hail activity. This succession of contrasting extremes created an unusually difficult production environment requiring greater operational flexibility, stricter vineyard selection, and ongoing adaptation in farming practices. Although the 2026 harvest resulted in significantly reduced volumes, vineyard and winery teams maintained a consistent focus on fruit evaluation, selection, and long-term vineyard health throughout the season.
Vintage Profile: Despite a season shaped by highly complex weather conditions, the wines of the 2026 vintage show good concentration and character, reflecting the intensity of the growing cycle. Current evaluations indicate wines trending toward a medium to medium-plus body, with moderate, well-integrated acidity, firm tannic structure, and a clear expression of ripe fruit.
Conclusion: From an enological perspective, fermentations progressed within expected parameters. Careful management of acidity and pH balance throughout vinification helped preserve the intended style and structural profile of the wines. The focus now shifts to the aging phase, where work with fine lees and bâtonnage will contribute to greater integration, texture, and overall balance. Given the structure and concentration observed at this stage, many of these wines may benefit from extended barrel aging, allowing for the gradual development of additional complexity, refinement, and expression over time.
