The Spanish grape harvest began in the south-eastern production region of Murcia about a week ago, with growers expecting a smaller harvest than usual.

"We had more rain than average in May which has affected the crop," said Joaquín Gómez, president of Murcia exporters association Apoexpa. "As a result we expect volumes to be about 20 per cent down on last year."

The flagship variety for the sector is Superior Seedless, but producers also have substantial plantings of increasingly popular red types such as Flame.

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