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The German grape harvest began on 14 August in the Palatinate. The first grapes with 74 degrees Öchsle were harvested there for Federweißen. According to the German Wine Institute (DWI), the start of this year's harvest and the general stage of development of the vines are in line with the average of previous years. Early-ripening varieties such as Solaris or Ortega are generally used to produce Federweißen.
The DWI expects the main harvest of varieties such as Müller-Thurgau to begin in early to mid-September. The Pinot varieties for sparkling wine production could be ripe as early as the end of August. For Riesling, the DWI predicts that the harvest will begin in mid to late September, depending on the growing region.
According to the DWI, the forecasts for the German grape harvest are generally very good. Producers have so far been spared significant weather-related damage. Winegrowers had major problems this year, particularly with powdery mildew (oidium), as the infestation pressure was unusually high. The severe drought in early summer mainly affected younger vines, whose root system is not yet as well developed. They suffered from drought stress, while older vineyards with their long roots benefited from deeper water reserves. The rainfall of the past few weeks has brought the necessary recovery for the vines.
(ru / Source: DWI)