A cold snap in Germany has caused “major damage” in several wine-growing regions following higher temperatures in the first half of April, according to a trade organization.
According to the German Wine Institute (DWV), night temperatures have fallen to lows of -5 °C in many wine-growing regions in Germany over the last two weeks.
The association said it was too early to fully assess the extent of the damage, but some local producers were preparing to lose most of their crops.
It added that due to the hot weather in recent months, German vines were on average two to four weeks ahead in their development and therefore the young shoots were frostbitten and the regrowing shoots may not be fruitful.
In Franconia, “frost damage varies greatly from region to region,” wrote the DWV. The Franconian Winegrowers Association assumes that 50% of the areas in the entire region are damaged, albeit to varying degrees.
“Wineries in Ipsheim, in the southern Steigerwald of Bad Kissingen and Karlstadt are particularly affected by the persistently frosty temperatures,” where attempts were made to protect the vines with frost candles, according to the DWV.
Further north, the Eisinger winery Otto Keller in Baden reported 99% damage due to night frost at -2.3 °C. The Bischoff winery in Dietlingen estimates that an area of around seven hectares was 80 to 90 percent damaged by the frost.
At another Hessische Bergstrasse winery, there was “massive damage”, especially in the Groß-Umstadt area, with night temperatures of -3.4°C. According to the Eltville wine growing authority, three vineyards around Groß-Umstadt are almost completely damaged.
Meanwhile, the Moselle region is also suffering: the winemaker Burens from Saarburg estimates that around 70% of his vineyards are affected.
Drinks only has contacted DWV for further comment.
According to government figures, wine production in Germany fell by almost 4% last year due to weather.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), wine and must production fell by 3.9% to 8.6 million hectoliters in 2023.
The agency blamed last year’s decline on weather. “Winemakers faced difficult harvest conditions, which was one of the factors for lower wine production,” it said.
Earlier this year, Germany recorded an increase in the value of its wine exports in 2023, but volumes fell, according to data from the German Wine Institute (DWI).
The value of German wine exports in 2023 was 384 million euros, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year.
However, the export volume fell by 2% to 1.15 million hectoliters.
“Cold snap causes ‘major damage’ to German vineyards” was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a brand owned by GlobalData.
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