Spain: Victoria variety kicks off Vinalopo grape campaign

Two weeks ago, Uvasdoce started harvesting the earliest table grape variety in the Vinalopó Valley, with a very positive balance during its first few days on the market.

"The harvest of the Victoria variety has started ten days earlier than last year, mostly due to the high temperatures registered in March and April," said Miriam Cutillas, of Uvasdoce's marketing department. 

During the first few days of the harvest, volumes were not very large to facilitate their gradual introduction to both markets and supermarkets within the country. However, in the coming days, the variety's destinations will expand into markets where it is highly valued "because of its spectacular appearance and its neutral and refreshing flavour," he says. Such markets include Canada, France and Germany, although due to the fact that it is the first domestic variety to arrive, most of the approximately 200,000 kilos that Uvasdoce will sell will remain in the Spanish market.

Miriam says that in addition to having arrived early, the Victoria this year has an exceptional quality, +26 calibres and a very homogeneous pale yellow; "qualities that are acquired through a set of techniques which have been given the name "The Uvasdoce Method" and which are used by the company with all its crops." 

Just like the Victoria, the area's Sugarone has also arrived a few days early, so Uvasdoce has already started harvesting it this week. The Victoria has kicked off the grape season in the Vinalopó Valley, which will continue in the coming weeks with other varieties such as the Crimson, Red Globe, Ideal or Aledo. Unless the weather prevents it, the company expects a good campaign for all varieties.