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July 2025 | Gazette Life | 5GAZETTE | NEWSHARVEST TIMELanzarote%u2019s wine harvest, known as la vendimia, will begin this month. It%u2019s a critical time for one of the island%u2019s most important products.The unique landscape of La Geria is usually peaceful, uninterrupted by humans, but this month will see scores of casual labourers in the fields in the early morning, carrying out the hard labour of gathering hundreds of thousands of kilogrammes of grapes. It promises to be a challenging harvest. Iv%u00e1n Monreal of Bodegas Vulcano has predicted that this year%u2019s vendimia will be %u201cdifficult, irregular and expensive%u201d as a result of the weather conditions over the last year.Monreal told RTVC that grapes were growing at different rates, with some developing normally while Experienced English Doctors. Attentive Service.Excellence in Medical Service.BRITISH SURGERY OF LANZAROTEGENERAL PRACTITIONER SERVICESSince 1991 - Founders M. Medina and M. WhelpdaleOPEN DAILY FROM 9AM TO 7PMWWW.BRITISHSURGERYOFLANZAROTE.COMTel: +34 928 514 274 +34 928 097 728Emergency +34 622 463 120others are lagging behind. This means that they will have to be gathered at different periods, which involves more time and more labour costs.Part of the reason for this irregular growth is the abnormal weather conditions in late 2024 and 2025. From November until February the Island experienced virtual drought conditions, with rainfall far below the average.That changed with some heavy downpours in March, April and May which, although welcome, were also not normal for the time of year. with a final total of 1.3 million kilos of grapes harvested. This was far below the bumper crop of 3.3 million kilos harvested in 2023, but last year%u2019s grapes were said to be of high quality. The price that winemakers pay suppliers for grapes is decided each year and depends on the quantity of grapes produced as well as the difficulties of the harvest, but in general the cost has doubled within the last 15 years and the average price of %u20ac3.50 for a kilo of malvasia grapes in 2024 was the highest ever.This is good news for the grape producers, but it also means that Lanzarote wine is now a luxury product, with few bottles available for under %u20ac13. Nevertheless, the recent boom in tourism has ensured a good market for local vintages, many of which have already sold out by this time of year. Local wines are also receiving more and more attention abroad, regularly winning awards in wine contests, but while the demand for Lanzarote wines remains so healthy on the island, there is little incentive for the island%u2019s bodegas to seek out export opportunities. Wine watchingIf you want to find out more about wine growing on Lanzarote we%u2019d recommend a visit to the La Geria, El Grifo, Stratvs or Rubic%u00f3n bodegas. Don%u2019t miss the fiesta at La Geria, which takes place on August 15th where grapes are gathered by workers in traditional costumes, carried by camel to be weighed and then dumped into a stone vat where visitors can tread on them.