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The main grape harvest has begun a little earlier than originally expected in many German wine-growing regions these days. According to the German Wine Institute (DWI), the vines have experienced a considerable boost in development during the very sunny days at the end of August and beginning of September.
According to the DWI, some of the grapes have ripened well ahead of the long-term average. Thanks to the low rainfall and sunny summer, the grapes are still very healthy at this time. The predicted weather phase with warm days and cool nights also favoured the development of aromas in the grapes. According to the DWI, German wine producers are accordingly looking forward to a qualitatively promising 2019 vintage.
The sometimes very heavy rainfall last weekend had a positive effect on drought-stressed vineyards and the juice content in the berries, explains the DWI. Previously, the grapes had had relatively small berries due to the lack of rain during the summer. In addition, sunburn damage to the grapes and regionally limited hailstorms had slightly reduced yields.
According to current yield estimates, the 2019 vintage will probably not quite reach the level of an average harvest of around nine million hectolitres nationwide, according to the DWI.