Germany

The start of the growing season passed without incident: there were no significant frost losses and the flowering went well. By contrast the summer was full of challenges. A severe drought in June was followed by unseasonably heavy rain in July and August. Mildew and the reappearance of the cherry fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii) caused much anxiety and fears of a rerun of the difficult 2014 harvest. To everyone’s relief (and unlike in 2014) September and the first part of October were glorious. It was dry, the sun shone and it was distinctly hot. The grapes ripened very quickly, precipitating a rapid harvest. Many of the southern regions, such as the Pfalz and Rheinhessen, had finished picking by the end of September. Quality levels should be at least good. The fine autumn weather allowed some traditional sweet wines (Auslese and above) to be made as well as the currently fashionable drier styles. The latest numbers from the German Wine Institute indicate a vintage 3% down on 2022 and 1% down on the ten year average.