Although it had been announced seven to ten days earlier, the harvest of wine grape varieties in the south of Republika Srpska has started at the usual time. Large vineyards have already harvested the early varieties, while in smaller ones it should begin in about a week. Heavy rains interrupted the harvest, but vineyard owners say that both the yield and quality are better compared to last year.
Ljubiša Inić, on his family estate with just over 700 vines, plans to start harvesting around September 10. He says he won’t rush, but notes that this year’s harvest is still somewhat earlier than in previous years. The season favored growers since there were no outbreaks of plant diseases.
“The longer you delay, the better the sugar level—the grapes gain sweetness and lose moisture. There wasn’t much rainfall, it didn’t require excessive chemical treatments, I sprayed the vines only six times,” said vineyard owner Ljubiša Inić from Zgonjevi near Trebinje.
More than 100 liters of rain in recent days will slightly affect the balance of sugar and other components in the grapes. About 40 tons of early varieties have already been harvested at Agrofin. Harvesting on around 120 hectares is expected to continue in the coming days.
“Right now we have enough pickers. Given our scale of production, the harvest will last at least a month and a half. This is the Cabernet variety, which ripens later, and it will be harvested at the end of September or beginning of October,” said Branko Anđelić, head of vineyard production at Agrofin d.o.o. Trebinje.
In the Trebinje area, vineyards cover around 450 hectares. The local department reports that the number of vineyards and total area have not increased compared to previous years.
Although this year’s grape yield is expected to be 10–15% higher, traditional varieties will not be sold to individuals due to the needs of wineries. Prices for surplus quantities of less in-demand wine varieties have been partially adjusted compared to last year.
Source: RTRS
