In the vineyards along the Rhine and Moselle, the vines could blossom earlier than usual this year. Often the vines start flowering at the beginning of June, but this time, according to the spokesman for the German Wine Institute (DWI), it will probably start as early as May.
Due to very warm days in April, the vegetation of the vines has developed about two weeks further than the long-term average. The development can only be slowed down by cooler May days.
In the long term, vine blossoming will start earlier and earlier due to climate change. Since the end of the 1980s it has felt as if someone had turned on a heater. Even a cooler year in between doesn't change that, as flowering doesn't start until the second half of June: "Climate change means that we have different extremes every year
Under normal weather conditions, it will take a good three months from now until the grapes are ready for harvest. The winegrowers follow the blossoming of the vines with great excitement every year. If it goes without problems, they can hope for a good harvest. Cool temperatures during the blossoming phase lead to less fruit set and reduce the yield accordingly.
(uka / Photo: German Wine Institute)
