| Agriculture

Vinícola Aurora harvests 93 million kilograms of grapes in the 2026 harvest.

The volume is 30% higher than the 2025 harvest and represents a record for the cooperative in its 95-year history.

31.03.2026 | 14:47 (UTC -3)

Rosângela Longhi, Cultivar Magazine edition

The Aurora Wine Cooperative concluded the 2026 harvest with a yield of 93 million kilograms of grapes, a volume 30% higher than the 2025 harvest, which saw 71,6 million kilograms processed. This was the highest result ever recorded in its 95-year history, surpassing the record set in 2021, when the cooperative harvested 90 million kilograms of the fruit.

According to Aurora, in addition to the significant growth in volume, the quality of the harvest remained within expected standards. The sugar content and health of the grapes were considered adequate, favored by a period of water scarcity during practically the entire harvest, with little rainfall. This ensured uniform production in the vineyards, guaranteeing good distribution of bunches on the plants, preventing overloading and contributing to the final quality.

Maintaining below-average temperatures during the spring prolonged the cycle of the varieties, especially those with early maturation. Regular rainfall at strategic times ensured the balanced development of the crop. Currently, 56 grape varieties are cultivated by approximately 1,1 cooperative families; among the main varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera) and Isabel, BRS Magna, Seibel, and Bordô (American and Hybrid varieties).

The cooperative's Agricultural Manager, Maurício Bonafé, highlights the positive results for different purposes, both for grapes destined for sparkling wine production, which showed balanced maturation between sugar (babo level) and acidity, and for varieties intended for red wines. According to Bonafé, the red grape varieties in the middle and late stages of their cycle benefited from the concentration of sugars provided by the lower availability of water. Similarly, the grapes destined for juice production maintained quality within the required standards.

“This harvest was about 8% above expectations. We had a very favorable cycle from a climatic point of view, with a harsh winter, good availability of chilling hours, no late frosts, and ideal conditions during flowering and plant development. The slight water scarcity during the ripening period was also fundamental in raising the quality of the grapes,” he says.

The head winemaker at Vinícola Aurora, Nauro José Morbini, points out that the harsh winter of 2025 and the low rainfall ensured excellent vine health, favoring the proper ripening of the grapes and, consequently, resulting in a harvest that was significant in both quantity and quality.