Grape-growers are bracing for a bitter harvest after the acute drought left 25% of the vineyards in the district severely affected. Severe drought in the district from April to June, when grapes reach flowering stage, has affected 25% of the total 1.75 lakh acres of vineyards in the district. The size and weight of fruits over 40,000 acres is expected to be affected by 30%, which would have its bearing on the quality of fruit. Manik Patil, Nashik divisional president of Maharashtra Rajya Draksha Bagayatdar Sangh (MRDBS), said, "There was acute water scarcity between April and June. This is the period when grapes are in flowering stages. Around 25% or 40,000 acre of vineyards in the district have been badly affected due to scarcity of water." He added, "The size of grapes, its quality and yield is likely to be affected due to the severe water scarcity. There will be around 30% losses in size and weight that may be around 1.20 lakh metric tonnes." Members of the state-level association of grape-growers are looking forward to a better grape season next year, after the recent rains. "The recent rains will benefit vineyards in the district. At present, there are no major activities in vineyards after the April pruning. Pruning may begin in Satana tehsil of the district, where early harvest is taken. Grape harvest begins there in November-December, while in rest of the tehsils, it begins in January and February," Patil said.