Germany
Riesling in the advantage of the October sun
The year 2023 was challenging for winegrowers: an excessively wet spring led to mildew infections, then came a very dry and warm, long summer – even at the beginning of September, temperatures were still in the 30s. This weather, combined with rain, caused rapid rotting in early-ripening varieties such as Burgundy and problems caused by the cherry vinegar fly, especially in dark-skinned berries. A quick harvest was necessary, which significantly reduced the yields (which were still classified as plentiful at the beginning of September). The latest harvest forecast is 8.8 million hectolitres, an average vintage.
Despite the adversity, there were winners: late-ripening varieties such as Riesling benefited from dry, cool and sunny conditions in late fall. The Rieslings of this vintage are light to medium-bodied, well-structured and show fresh, complex aromas. It was a particularly good year for fruity and noble sweet Rieslings with fresh acidity and balanced fruit. Where careful selection was carried out, excellent Beerenauslese and even Trockenbeerenauslese wines were produced. The Silvaner also showed its best side, emphasising its mineral characteristics in Franconia with a moderate alcohol content and good aromatic freshness. In addition, winegrowers who relied on fungus-resistant new varieties (“PiWis”) were satisfied.
Switzerland
A challenging and atypical year
The 2023 wine year was exceptional for Swiss winegrowers. Despite the drought in the summer and capricious weather conditions, the harvest is expected to be similar to the previous year at 99 million hectolitres. The drought led to an increase in powdery mildew (oidium) in German-speaking Switzerland, but timely measures enabled good grape quality. Storms with hail in Graubünden and Valais damaged 20 to 40 percent of the vines in some municipalities. The harvest lasted until the third week of October in some cases, with the wine quality being satisfactory overall. Pinot Noir in particular displays a broad spectrum of aromas, which favours blends.
In Vaud, the second largest wine-growing region, production is expected to peak at around 30 million litres, an increase of 7.5 percent compared to 2022. Despite early mildew problems and summer heat, good harvests were recorded here, although the must weights were somewhat lower than in the previous year. The year was challenging in Ticino, but improved towards the end. Rain encouraged downy mildew and caused grape damage in some areas. Nevertheless, high-quality grapes were harvested, especially Merlots, which are less powerful but fresh.