FROM THE VINEYARD TO THE WINERY: “
“—2025 Harvest Diary at Viña Elena
The 2025 growing season began with a mild, calm winter and moderate temperatures. The first rains in March came at just the right time, soaking the soil and promoting balanced sprouting.
Spring remained cool, with cloudy days and ample moisture. The rains in May were particularly beneficial, helping the vines grow vigorously and without stress.
Despite a few isolated hailstorms—such as the one on May 10—our vineyards did not suffer significant damage. Overall, it was a favorable year for the vineyard, allowing the vines to develop steadily and in a balanced manner.
July brought milder temperatures than in previous years, along with a significant daily temperature range. Everything pointed to a later harvest, perhaps in early September. But summer had other plans.
In early August, an intense heat wave set in and lasted for more than two weeks, with temperatures exceeding 40 °C for several consecutive days. This sudden rise in temperature accelerated the ripening process, and the grapes began to concentrate and lose weight —a clear sign that we couldn’t wait any longer.
Faced with this situation, we made a quick and decisive decision: to bring forward the harvest to preserve the wine’s freshness and balance. We began harvesting Monastrell grapes in the Estrecho de Marín Valley, in the southern part of the Jumilla DOP, on August 20, and finished all the plots on Friday , August 29 —the earliest Monastrell harvest ever recorded at Viña Elena.
The harvest itself went smoothly. The grapes arrived at the winery in excellent condition, showing full ripeness and good concentration. Total production remained similar to the previous year’s, with very low yields—around 2,000 kg/ha on average. Many of these grapes come from our organic vineyards in Jumilla, where sustainable management fosters an authentic expression of the Mediterranean terroir.
In 2024, the vineyards ended the season exhausted, with thin shoots and some plots nearly dry. But thanks to the spring rains, they regained their vigor and structure this year—which allowed for proper pruning and set a hopeful tone for 2026, provided that the fall and next spring are favorable for the vines.
Today, as the wines rest in the cellar, we perceive a clear expression of balance:
• Richer, darker fruit
• A fuller body and a more complex structure than the 2024 vintage
• A character that reflects both the intensity of summer and the calm of spring, influenced by our Mediterranean climate.
The 2025 vintage will be remembered as a year of quick and wise decisions, in which dedication in the vineyard made all the difference. Once again, it reminds us that authentic wines are born in the vineyard —especially in the stony, sun-drenched soils of Jumilla, where Monastrell expresses its full potential.
Elena Pacheco, manager and winemaker, harvesting the Mandiles vineyard. August 20, 2025.
