German Wine Harvest 2022 - Good Yields and Excellent Quality

According to the German Wine Institute (DWI), the latest estimates are around nine million hectolitres nationwide. This would correspond to an additional two percent compared to the ten-year average and six percent compared to the previous year.

According to the DWI, the higher yields were mainly due to the rainfall in September. It allowed the ripe grapes to plump up once again after the extremely dry summer. However, it also created a challenge for the winegrowers and often required additional selection work in the vineyards.

In the thirteen German winegrowing regions, the estimated yields varied greatly depending on the distribution of precipitation, the range of grape varieties and the soil conditions. The Saale-Unstrut region, in particular, was more than satisfied with a significant increase in yields of 23 percent compared to the long-term average. But wine producers in the Ahr and Baden regions are also very grateful for an expected yield that is 13 percent above the average in each case. In most other regions, volume increases are forecast in the low single digits.

Slightly below-average yields are estimated for the Mosel (-7 percent) and Rheinhessen (-2 percent) due to challenging weather conditions.

The September precipitation also meant that the sugar content in the grapes of later-ripening varieties, such as Riesling, remained moderate despite the very sunny summer. Consequently, the young wines are leaner than in previous hot years, but still highly aromatic and with harmonious fruit acidity levels. This aligns them perfectly with the general trend of consumers. The qualities of the other white wine varieties were also highly praised, especially the Pinots (Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder) and Silvaner.

Among the winners of the 2022 vintage in Germany are the red wines, because the red grapes benefited most from the sunniest summer since weather records began. Consumers can look forward to very colour-intensive and fruit-driven red wines with soft tannins.

Some winegrowers will crown their harvest with raisined grapes for the preparation of noble sweet Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines. More about these precious wines can be found here.

Forecast of the German wine must harvest in 2022 (as of 24.10.2022)

Source: DWV-Estimation, DeStatis

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