Likely the earliest on record, at least in some parts of the country, this year's grape harvest in Slovenia has been described as disastrous in terms of volumes. On a positive side, experts say it is likely to yield a fine vintage.

Compared to the five-year average, the harvest is down by about a third this year on the whole, the Winemakers' Association at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) has warned.

The extreme weather conditions and grapevine flavescence dorée, one of the most damaging vine diseases, have cut the yield by between 30% and 60%, depending on the wine region.

"This year's grape harvest is record low. The harvests have been much lower for the third year in a row, the cellars are empty and now we really need help to save jobs," Gorazd Bedenčič, the head of the Winemakers' Association, says.

The winemakers are doing their best to adapt to climate change, but they can no longer cope with the frequency of extreme weather conditions.

Frost, rain, disease and extreme heat

Most of the harvest was lost to spring frost, heavy rains and hail, with the Bizeljsko, Kras and Vipava Valley appellations hit the hardest.

The Posavje wine region in the east is estimated to have had its harvest reduced by 25-30% with Bizeljsko losing up to 70%.

The Podravje region in the northeast will have produced about 30% less grapes this year. The crop there was also hit by flavescence dorée.

The Primorska region in the southwest is estimated to have lost about 30%, where the losses are worst in the Vipava Valley at up to 50% and the Kras region at up to 60%.

Slovenia's leading wine region, Brda on the border with Italy saw its grape harvest slashed by April frost, bad weather during flowering time and severe heat during the summer. Hail also did some damage.

Early harvest, good quality

Klet Brda, the region's biggest winery, will process 4,100 tonnes of grapes this year, about a third less than average and about 40% less than planned, the winery's director Silvan Peršolja told reporters.

"The harvest has not started this early for decades, even though harvests have been trending ever earlier, three weeks to a month earlier compared with the last fifty years," said Peršolja.

Similar reports have come from other parts of the country, including the Puklavec Family Wines, the biggest winery in northeast, which started picking its grapes in mid-August, the earliest date yet.

However, there are indications that the grapes are of great if not superb quality and are likely to produce a fine vintage.

Darinko Ribolica, the Brda winery's chief oenologist, pointed out that the grapes are healthy and of surprising quality, in particular the Pinot Gris, Rebula and Sauvignonasse varieties in the whites, while the reds will have an exceptional colour.

"As much as 95% of the grapes harvested this year would have reached the selection or super selection garde in a normal harvest," the winery's director Peršolja added.

Appeal for help

Due to the poor harvest quantity-wise, Slovenian winemakers are worried that they may lose their place on store shelves because of the excess of wine in the EU, which could be sold cheap in Slovenia.

Their association is also concerned because vineyards are being abandoned due to the uncertainty in the industry as a result of extreme weather, planned reduction of plant protection products and the European anti-alcohol policy.

The Chamber of Agricultural and Food Companies at the GZS, which includes the winemakers, urged the government to provide financial assistance to a sector that is of vital importance to Slovenia's tourism, gastronomy and countryside farming.

They call for better oversight and consistent monitoring of grape and wine production volumes to prevent false designation of origin. They say the food supply chain ombudsman should monitor grape and wine sale developments to prevent illegal practices.

Meanwhile, the Brda winery, which supplies 26 markets, is worried about the impact of potential recession in Germany, while they are upbeat about the US market. They have recently revamped their Virgo line of premium classic sparkling wines, which will now include zero, brut and rosé styles.