Last year's losers can feel like winners this time. In Baden, the German Winegrowers' Association estimates that the harvest will be 50% larger than last year and 13% larger than the 10-year average, which shrank after a few poor autumns. Württemberg's winegrowers can also look forward to normal quantity again, with an increase of 15% compared to 2021. While the winegrowers of Baden expect 1.35m hl, the those in Wuerttemberg expect 1m hl.
The decisive factor for the harvest volume, which is above early forecasts, was September. After heat and drought initially clouded expectations, the wet September did require more care in selection, as the rain increased fungal pressure, which had not played a role in the dry year until then. Lower temperatures during the harvest kept this problem in check, however. At the same time, the rainfall allowed for larger volumes grow and ensured that the fears of high must weights and the associated high alcohol wines did not materialise.
Harvest in Germany
The winners of previous years are by no means among the losers in 2022. The Pfalz is expected to produce 2.3 mill. hl, 4% more than the average, while Rheinhessen is expecting a tolerable 2% drop from the long-term average to 2.47 mill. hl.
The Mosel is more severely affected, where 7% less than the average is expected after the normal 2021 harvest. Franconian winegrowers were able to breathe a sigh of relief in 2021 after disastrous previous years, and this year they can take a deep breath again. Their harvest is expected to be slightly larger than last year and 6% larger than average. (CG)
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