Here is a bit of an article in the Independent, Sant Sadurni is about 8km from here and they are beginning to harvest the grapes-most of the fields where we live are dedicated to this. Although this year has been hot and dry - which is great for wine grapes, it's rained a lot this week which is terrible as the grapes become "watery" and moulds and fungus hit and ruin the harvest, it will probably ruin some farmer's harvests if they don't pick them soon.
Saboteurs hit at heart of cava region in Spain
Saboteurs armed with mechanical clippers and motorsaws have hacked down 475 vines belonging to Spain's winemaking giant Freixenet, producers of Britain's favourite budget sparkling wine. The sector's farmers' union is in the throes of a campaign of mobilisations for what it calls "a dignified price for the grape", but yesterday disclaimed any connection with the attack. The union warned, however, that it would radicalise its protests if a minimum price for wine destined for cava was not agreed.
Dozens of small wine producers in the farmers' union blockaded the vast wine-making plants of Spain's two main cava producers, Freixenet and Cordoniu, in the town of Sant Sadurni d'Anoia on Monday. They also picketed the installations of Torres, another big Penedes winemaker enormously popular in Britain. Growers were protesting at the low price they receive for white grapes which are destined for cava.
The union's spokesman, Josep Maria Coll, said the producers could not survive another year at current prices. He said that for the past three years growers had been subjected to prices that failed to cover costs. "It's increasingly difficult to keep vineyards going. The cava industry risks killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," Mr Coll said.
Talks between growers and winemakers over a price agreement broke down last month. However, with grapes now ripe for picking, the union is threatening to halt the harvest until agreement is reached.