Port harvest starts in August – it's a record

We may debate the effects of western Europe’s drought in Rioja, but there is no doubt at all that port country, the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, is suffering. Paul Symington (Graham, Dow, Warre etc) reports today:

“I am writing this in the Douro on yet another hot dry day, the leaves are getting yellower and drier by the day. I have watched bunches of good healthy grapes turn to raisins over a matter of days after the leaves turn completely brown. This is still only on isolated vines, but it is getting worrying as the forecast is for no rain...