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In Germany, the grape harvest began on August 19. In the Palatinate, the first early-ripening Solaris grapes with over 80 degrees Oechsle were harvested for the production of Federweißer. According to the German Wine Institute (DWI), the development of the vines is at the level of the previous two years. The DWI expects the Burgundy grapes for sparkling wine production to be ready by the end of August.
The main grape harvest usually starts with varieties like Müller-Thurgau. These are expected to be harvested in early September due to the currently sunny climate. The Riesling, on the other hand, is expected to come into the cellars from mid to late September, depending on the growing region, according to DWI.
The 2024 vintage has demanded a lot of work from the producers in the vineyard. The unusually rainy first half of the year brought a high infection pressure from both powdery mildew and downy mildew. Due to the high precipitation, the vines were able to grow very well, resulting in intensive leaf work. In general, however, the winemakers expect a good harvest quantity and quality.
However, not all German wine regions have positive forecasts. The areas affected by late frost, Saxony and Saale-Unstrut, are expecting a yield loss of between 70 to 80 percent.
(ru / DWI)