|
|
The German Farmers' Association warns of a historic crisis in German viticulture. Despite the high quality of the 2025 vintage, the economic situation of many businesses is dramatic. The barrel wine prices are significantly below the production costs of around 1.20 euros, at 40 to 60 cents per liter. Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied therefore expects a significant decline in vineyard areas.
In this context, he calls on consumers to reach for domestic wine more often: "Drink more German wine. We offer qualities that can easily compete with wines from France, Spain, or Italy," said Rukwied. At the same time, he demands relief from politics, especially through the reduction of bureaucracy.
The 2025 wine harvest was around 16 percent below the ten-year average at 7.3 million hectoliters – the lowest harvest since 2010. The industry is additionally burdened by structural problems: seasonal workers are hard to find, and rising labor costs – also due to the minimum wage – exceed revenues in many businesses. Winemakers in steep locations are particularly affected, where cultivation can hardly be mechanized. The market share of German wine in the domestic market has fallen to 41 percent, while exports – especially to the USA – are affected by tariffs.
(ru – Image: 123rf)
More on the topic
DWV: Up to 30,000 ha less vineyard area in Germany
New winemaker initiative warns of wave of bankruptcies in viticulture