Abundant rainfall in the first half of winter reversed the severe drought of 2022, satisfactorily replenishing soil water levels. Although the period from February to April was exceptionally dry and mild, generous late spring rains in May and June sustained the vines throughout the ripening cycle. While much of Europe faced extreme heatwaves during the summer, July temperatures in Portugal were close to normal and, in the Douro, slightly below average.Although there was virtually no rainfall in the Douro during July and August, reasonable soil moisture, combined with comparatively moderate temperatures, favoured good levels of acidity, balanced maturations, and good phenolic development. Perfectly timed rain in early September provided an excellent start to the harvest, which was conducted under outstanding conditions during the first half of the month.