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The 2017 vintage ended unusually early. The German Wine Institute (DWI) reports that in many companies it was already completed by the end of September. Overall, the 2017 vintage was of "good to very good quality", but the harvest was very small.
According to the DWI, the latest yield estimates suggest a nationwide grape must harvest of around 7.5 million hectolitres. This would correspond to a minus of 18 percent compared to the previous year and the ten-year average of nine million hectolitres.
However, the harvest results are subject to great regional and individual variations, depending on the extent to which the vineyards were damaged by the April frosts, which is the main reason for the small quantity. In addition, hailstorms and the resulting grape selections in the vineyards have reduced yields.
According to the DWI, extreme weather conditions this year also led in some cases to considerable yield losses in many European countries. The EU Commission is currently assuming a Europe-wide wine must harvest of around 146 million hectolitres. This would be the smallest European grape must harvest since 2000, 23 million hectolitres (14 per cent) below the previous year's result and 22 million hectolitres (13 per cent) below the five-year average.
(uka / Photo: German Wine Institute)