Vintage Report 2023

Toplou Estate S.A.
Wine & Spirits Production and Bottling
Toplou Monastery, Sitia, Crete, 72300
Tel.: +30 28430 29630 | Fax: +30 28430 29635 | Email: info@ktimatoplou.gr

Winemaking Year 2023

The 2023 growing season in the region of Toplou Monastery, Sitia, Crete, was marked by significant challenges that impacted vineyard productivity. A warm winter and spring rains were among the primary difficulties.

Diseases and Agricultural Measures

Downy mildew: Early in the growing season, downy mildew caused concern, necessitating frequent interventions to limit damage to acceptable levels (5%-10%).

Powdery mildew: Outbreaks occurred from mid to late June.

Grape moth (Lobesia botrana): This pest caused minimal issues this year, requiring very few treatments.

Yield Reduction

Total production decreased by approximately 50%, primarily due to the following factors:

Smaller berry size: The weight of grape berries was reduced by 31% compared to the five-year average.

Downy mildew: Caused a 5% yield loss.

Birds and wildlife damage: Significant losses were observed due to an already reduced crop.

Rainfall Impact

A heavy rainfall event on September 6th (60 mm) affected late-ripening varieties causing rot.
In contrast, early and mid-ripening varieties, produced highly concentrated wines due to the smaller berry size.

Climatic Data

For the second consecutive year, Sitia experienced low annual rainfall, with a total of 279.3 mm. Key rainfall events included:

March: 76.6 mm (with a maximum daily rainfall of 40.4 mm).

September: 64.6 mm (with a maximum daily rainfall of 60.8 mm).

The summer months (July-August) were completely dry, with no recorded rainfall.