Germany braces for smallest harvest since 2010
Just 7.3 million hectolitres of wine must are expected to be produced in Germany this year, making 2025 the smallest harvest in 14 years, the German Wine Institute (DWI) has revealed.
Predictions have been based on the final harvest estimates from all 13 wine growing regions in Germany, the DWI said.
If estimates are correct, this would correspond to a 7% drop compared to last year’s yield and 16% lower than the average harvest over the last decade, which sits at 8.7m hectolitres.
This year is predicted to be the lowest German grape must harvest since the 2010 vintage, which produced just 7.1m hectolitres.
Which regions suffer the biggest impact?
Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden and Württemberg, the four largest grape growing regions in Germany, have seen the biggest declines with significantly reduced harvest volumes.
Partner Content
All four regions have reported smaller grape berries and below-average must yields.
Intensive grape selection was triggered by heavy rainfall in mid-September.
Producers in Rheinhessen are predicting a loss of 23%, or 600,000 hectolitres, compared with the 10-year average. In Pfalz, estimates equate to an 18% drop, down 400,000 hectolitres. Baden has reported a 15% decrease of 180,000 hectolitres and for Württemberg, 200,000 hectolitres (-22 per cent).
However, some regions in Germany are in higher spirits this year, having avoided the extreme late frost last year. The two eastern regions of Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut, and the Ahr, have recorded three-digit percentage increases in volume compared to the previous year. In the Mosel and Franken, the estimated harvest volumes for this year are even slightly above the average level.
All 13 regions have reported that the quality of grapes is high this year, despite the heavy rainfall in September. Grapes are said to be significantly more ripe than usual.
Related news
Rías Baixas achieves record sales in the US
RoboDrop: can driverless cars rescue US booze sales?
Wines of Hungary targets Korean consumers for International Aszú Day
