Producers across Germany’s winemaking regions began the grape harvest last week, according to the German Wine Institute (DWI). The majority of winegrowers have high hopes for a quality vintage, with sparkling wine grapes already harvested in August in a healthy condition.
Well-Balanced Wines: Must Weights Reached Quality Levels
Throughout Germany, grapes developed well in the sunny period from mid-August to early September. Must weights are at quality levels all-around, with several varieties surpassing expectations—many Müller-Thurgau and ripe Pinot Gris grapes have already been harvested with good results.
Interestingly, the differences in ripeness between the individual grape varieties are relatively large this year and vary markedly between the growing regions, depending on location and viticultural conditions. For instance, while Pinot varieties are relatively well developed, especially in the southern regions, Riesling ripeness is still below the level of previous years.
“Slow-to-Grow”: Further Increases in Grape Ripeness Expected
The mixed weather conditions and heavy rainfall of the last few days slightly slowed the ripening progress of some grape varieties. As a result, the start of this year’s harvest has been subdued compared to the turbocharged harvest of last year; many wineries have chosen to wait for further ripening before harvesting.
If more gentle autumn weather sets in over the next few weeks, the conditions will still be in place to produce a high-quality vintage; alternating warm days and cool nights would be perfect for the development of flavor in the grapes.
A Strong Harvest for Sparkling Wines
Earlier to harvest than some other varieties, many of the grapes used for sparkling wine production in Germany were brought in at the end of August, with winemakers reporting favorable grape health.
The Fruits of a Labor-Intensive Winegrowing Season
2024 was a very labor-intensive year for winegrowers. The exceptionally rainy first half of the year placed notable demands on winegrowers to keep vines healthy, as high rainfall can lead to increased infection from downy and powdery mildew. At the same time, the vines grew robustly due to the plentiful water supply, leading to intensive foliage work for growers. Luckily, most vineyards managed to get the situation under control.
Additionally, numerous vineyards in the growing regions of Franken, Württemberg, the Nahe, the Mosel and parts of Baden were damaged by a late frost in April, with the frost hitting the eastern regions of Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut particularly hard. Yield losses between 70-80% are expected in these more heavily affected areas.
To learn more, read the German Wine Institute’s full press release.
