Axarquia’s raisin grape growers left counting the cost as relentless heat wipes out harvest

Weeks of punishing temperatures have dealt a heavy blow to one of Andalucia’s most treasured traditions, and local growers are now pleading for help before it’s too late.

What are raisin grapes and why do they matter here

Moscatel grapes grown across the Axarquia, are dried in the sun to produce Spain’s famous sun-dried raisin grapes, a variety quite different from the small, dark raisins found on British supermarket shelves. Whole, plump and intensely sweet, these grapes are laid out on woven mats until they shrivel naturally in the heat, a tradition passed down through generations of local families and central to the region’s food culture, tourism and rural economy.

Heat means devastating losses

Almachar’s mayor, Antonio Yuste Gamez, has written a formal letter to Laura Soto Garcia, the newly appointed territorial delegate for Andalucia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, warning that more than 60 per cent of this year’s raisin grape harvest has been lost. Extreme heat throughout July and August, with little relief even overnight, has left vines suffering severe water and thermal stress, according to the letter.

Grapes have failed to mature and dehydrate naturally as a result, sharply cutting both yield and quality compared with a typical season. Yuste has asked regional authorities to send technicians urgently to inspect the affected land, certify the damage and explore financial support or compensation schemes for struggling families.

A globally recognised crop under threat

Losses of this scale threaten more than just this year’s income. Raisin grape cultivation in the area holds Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System status, granted by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, reflecting its cultural and historical value across generations. Farmers now face serious difficulty covering basic maintenance costs for vineyards that have supported local families for centuries.

Neighbouring villages are reporting similarly grim figures, with some vineyards elsewhere in the region facing losses of around 45 per cent of their moscatel grape production this year. Farming groups have called for an official damage assessment to determine what support might follow.

Growers demand action before autumn festivities

Initial forecasts for 2026 had actually pointed to a better season than 2025, making the sudden downturn even harder to accept for producers who depend heavily on late-summer conditions. Almachar is due to host its Ajoblanco Festival on September 2, a celebration that traditionally features the town’s raisin grapes, wine and produce, adding pressure on officials to respond quickly.

Farmers across the area say repeated heatwaves over recent weeks, combined with ongoing drought, have pushed an already fragile sector towards crisis, with many now waiting anxiously to see whether regional authorities will step in with financial relief.