The 2024 harvest ended last week at Cooperativa Vinícola Aurora, with the receipt of 50,3 million kilos of grapes. The volume is 28,6% lower than in 2023, when 70,5 million kilos were harvested. Compared to the average of the last 10 years, the reduction was 22,14%. The lowest amount recorded is related to the climate phenomenon El Niño, which influenced all vine cycles.
The Agricultural Manager of Cooperativa Vinícola Aurora, Maurício Bonafé, explains that grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling Itálico, intended for sparkling wines, and American and hybrid grapes, such as BRS Magna, BRS Violeta, Concord and Bordô, used in the production of whole grape, presented the ideal characteristics for the products made by the company. The low rainfall in February ended up benefiting the good quality of red varieties, such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Tannat, which are harvested between the second and third months of the year.
“The white wine grapes for sparkling wines had excellent acidity and a good level of sugar. The red wines harvested this year proved to be ideal for producing young, lighter wines to be consumed fresh. The American and hybrid grapes, which represent around 70% of the volume harvested by the cooperative, had a good sugar and health content, which maintains the characteristics of Aurora's whole grape juice”, he summarizes.
The volume harvested is the result of the work of 1,1 families, who produce 56 varieties of grapes on small properties averaging 2,5 hectares. Altogether, there are 2,8 thousand hectares of vineyards in 11 municipalities in Serra Gaúcha. The entire cooperative harvest is delivered to Aurora, historically representing 10% to 15% of the total harvest in Rio Grande do Sul.
The 2024 harvest is a milestone in the history of Cooperativa Vinícola Aurora, with overcoming challenges that went beyond weather conditions. One of this year's objectives, the increase in grape harvesting with the help of bins - boxes with a capacity of up to 500 kilos, replacing 20 kilo boxes - was exceeded, going from 78% in 2023 to 87% of the total volume received in 2024.
The main benefit of using the equipment, transported by tractor and forklift, is the health and well-being of winegrowers, both associates and temporary workers.
The harvest also crowned the actions carried out throughout 2023 to adapt all 1,1 members to labor legislation. Through the Good Agricultural Practices (BPA) program, associates received guidance and assistance so that they were able to carry out contracts with a formal contract. They were also instructed on accommodation conditions, use of PPE, and other initiatives that guaranteed decent working conditions for everyone.
Around 60 members were inspected by auditors from the Public Ministry of Labor and another 61 inspected by an external audit hired by Aurora.
The president of the Board of Directors of Cooperativa Vinícola Aurora, Renê Tonello, highlights that all inspected producers were in compliance with labor standards. He informs that some improvements were proposed, based on dialogue and supported by the programs developed and improved throughout the year so that everyone was adapted in a timely manner.
“We can say that we had a smooth harvest. It is important to say that these actions carried out by the cooperative will be permanent and improved every year to guarantee dignified and decent working conditions for everyone who is part of the production chain”, he assures.
Tonello adds that the acceleration of measures that include the areas of compliance and ESG within the cooperative's internal scope guarantees the continuity of work aimed at good agricultural and labor practices.
2014 - 57 million
2015 - 65,5 million
2016 - 33,6 million
2017 - 71,5 million
2018 - 61,8 million
2019 - 68,2 million
2020 - 61,9 million
2021 - 90 million
2022 - 66 million
2023 – 70,5 million
2024 – 50,3 million
* (kilos of grapes)
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