Climate
The predominant climate of the region is described as
a “Lower Temperate Mesothermal Stenothermic
Semiarid Mediterranean” climate. In the
summer, its sunken and protected location provides a warm
and dry environment, while during winter the environment
is cold and wet. Its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean
allows the entrance of a soft sea breeze (the
sea is only 75 km away from the valley). This refreshing
breeze comes in during hot summer evenings providing
an ideal environment for slow and proper ripening of the
grapes. Regarding temperature ranges, January
is the warmest month of the year, with maximum average
temperatures of 30° C. This month has dramatic daily
thermal fluctuations, with recorded differences up to
15-18° C between night and day. During the harvest
season the maximum average temperatures quickly fall,
maintaining thermal fluctuations at different times
of the day. July is the coldest month of the year with
minimum average temperatures of 4° C.
Risks of frost are present at the beginning of spring,
though they have been reduced to small remote areas
of the valley.
Our vineyards are mostly planted 100 meters
above sea level, with an annual average rainfall
of 837 mm which is greatly beneficial to the hydrological
regime of the vineyard. The exclusively frontal rainfall
is present between the months of May and August, with
a peak during June. The potential annual evapotranspiration
reaches 1.290 mm, creating an annual average hydric
deficit of 911 mm. This 7-month dry period of hydric
deficiency, spanning between the months of October and
April, creates the need to supply water through the
irrigation system to the plants.
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