Harvest 2009: "A Truly Great Vintage"

After a year of nearly perfect weather, wine-growers in all 13 German wine-growing regions are extremely pleased with the quality of the 2009 crop. "This year will go down in history as a truly great vintage," predicted Norbert Weber, president of the German Wine-growers' Association/Bonn.

Weinlese "Seldom have we been able to harvest such aromatic, healthy and fully ripe grapes as this year." Many estates harvested grapes with must weights of well over 150 degrees Oechsle, the ripeness level necessary to produce the rarities Beeren- and Trockenbeerenauslese.

10-15% less volume than last year
According to the German Wine Institute/Mainz, the overall volume of this year’s harvest, estimated at 8.8 million hl, is some 10-15% less than last year and the past five-year average. In some regions, such as the Rheingau, Mittelrhein or Nahe, the deficit is estimated to be more than 20%. The size of the crop in Franken, though, was normal, and in the Pfalz, only relatively smaller than usual (-6%). The lower yields are attributed to uneven blossoming as well as the sunny, but dry, late summer weather. Severe winter frost was an additional factor in the easternmost regions, Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen, where this year’s crop was only about half of that of 2008.

Detailed crop reports of the 13 individual German wine growing regions (pdf-download).

Apart from individual estates’ price adjustments, German Wine-growers’ Association president Weber estimates that wine prices will remain more or less stable despite this year’s volume deficits. In fact, the size of this year’s harvest is in line with market conditions. Given preliminary estimates of the 2009 harvest in Europe as a whole – 173 million hl, or about the same as in 2008 – Germany has no reason to fear excessive market pressure from its European wine-producing counterparts.

Superb price-pleasure ratio
The German Wine Institute’s managing director, Monika Reule, sees the 2009 vintage as a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts in terms of a price-pleasure ratio. “The 2009 wines of all our wine regions offer superb quality, or value, for money. Many a wine of Spät- or Auslese quality potential will be sold as QbA wines in order to meet market demands,” says Reule. She reckons with exceptionally fruit-driven, full-bodied and extremely well-balanced white wines and powerful, deep-colored and velvety red wines. It remains to be seen whether vintage 2009 will be crowned with the rarity Eiswein – but the excellent condition of the grapes still on the vine, i.e. healthy and ripe, bodes well. Mother Nature will decide.

Reule is certain that Germany’s 2009 vintage will also achieve international acclaim. “In addition to fabulous Rieslings and Pinots, many a wine critic or enthusiast will be surprised by the extraordinary quality of our red wines. In foreign circles, is still a relatively well-kept secret that about one third of Germany’s vineyard area is planted with red wine varietals and that Germany is the world’s third largest producer of Pinot Noir,” explained the wine institute’s director.

Grape Must Harvest in Germany in 2009: Preliminary Estimates

Wine-growing region	Estimated Yields 2009	2008/2009 Change in %
Ahr	36.000 hl	-16
Baden	1.200.000 hl	-13
Hessische Bergstraße	32.000 hl	-13
Franken	460.000 hl	+/-0
Mittelrhein	25.000 hl	-32
Mosel	780.000 hl	-13
Nahe	300.000 hl	-21
Pfalz	2.250.000 hl	-6
Rheingau	215.000 hl	-22
Rheinhessen	2.500.000 hl	-13
Saale-Unstrut	23.000 hl	-58
Sachsen	14.000 hl	-49
Württemberg	1.000.000 hl	-12
total	8.835.000 hl	-12

Druckansicht

Wines of Germany to expand Irish activities

2009 will see the Wines of Germany representation in Ireland double its activities here. This was confirmed at the Generation Riesling event in Dublin on 9th September, where eight young German vintners showcased their exciting Riesling and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) wines. One of the highlights on next year’s agenda will be a Riesling & Co. event for the Irish wine trade and interested consumers in June with up to 20 participating German vintners.

Young wine producers make their mark

Eight young winegrowers from Germany have presented their wines at a Generation Riesling event in Dublin on 9th September. Hosted by the German Ambassador H. E. Christian Pauls and organised by the Dublin based Wines of Germany representation, the main focus clearly was on exciting Riesling wines, with high-quality Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) wines also attracting great interest.

In Vogue: German Light Wines

Light, fruity wines that are low in alcohol are a trademark of German vintners, whose vineyards are among the most northerly in the world, and where conditions for producing light wines are ideal. Ernst Büscher of the German Wine Institute in Mainz states that “in Germany’s wine-growing regions, grapes have a very long time to ripen and develop considerable aromas and flavours.

Germany: Favourable Conditions for a Good Vintage in 2008

The harvest of early ripening, local varietals began in mid-August in Germany. The juice of these grapes will be consumed locally in the form of the popular seasonal specialty “Federweisser” – grape juice in the process of fermenting. Weather conditions during the past months have been quite favourable for grape growth and ripening. At this time, development is one to two weeks earlier than the long-term norm and the grapes are quite healthy.