The German Wine Institute (DWI) has predicted its smallest vintage in 15 years, marking a sharp decline in volume.
The Institute said that based on its final estimates, across all 13 wine-growing regions, 7.3 million hl of wine are expected to be produced.
This corresponds to a 7% drop compared to last year’s yields and a 16% drop when compared to the average harvest of the last ten years.
The last time such a low harvest was recorded was in 2010, which produced 7.1 million hl of wine.
The Institute added that the decline is largely due to reduced harvest volumes in Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden and Württemberg.
Heavy rainfall in mid-September also led to an estimated harvest loss of 23%, or approximately 600,000 hl.
Some regions did fare better. The two eastern regions of Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut, as well as the Ahr, have recorded triple-digit percentage increases in volume compared to the previous year, when they experienced frost. The harvests in Mosel and Franken are also slightly above average.
DWI spokesman Ernst Büscher, commented: “While volumes may be lower, all 13 German wine-growing regions are unanimous in their assessment of the wine quality, which is rated as extremely good due to the unusually high grape ripeness. Although the grape berries were often smaller this year, they were all the more aromatic, which means that very concentrated and fruity wines can be expected.”
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