Large German wine harvest in 2018

Germany's winegrowers can expect an above-average harvest this year, the government statistics office Destatis predicted on Wednesday.

A 9.75-million-hectoliter (one hectolitre equals 100 liters) total harvest is expected this year — 1 million hectoliters higher than the five-year average between 2012 and 2017, and 2 million more than last year's unusually low yield.

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The crop for Germany's most popular wine variety, Riesling, is expected to almost quadruple in size, going from 557,000 hectoliters last year to an expected 2.08 million.

The German Wine Institute (DWI) is optimistic not only about the extent of 2018's harvest, but also about the quality of the vintage.

"We will have very good yields and also very good quality," the DWI's Ernst Büscher said. "The condition of the grapes is abnormally good because of the very sunny and dry weather that's persisting." 

White wine aplenty

Of the total 2018 vintage, 64 percent will be white and 36 percent will be red. In the Mosel (90 percent), Rheingau (85 percent) and Middle Rhine (86 percent) growing regions, white grapes are the main crop.

Estimates also predicted higher yields for red grape varieties in 2018. The harvest of the Pinot Noir will increase from 230,700 hectoliters to 1.01 million hectoliters, the Dornfelder from 75,200 hectoliters to 914,400 hectoliters and the Portuguese from 62,800 hectoliters to 330,200 hectoliters.

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law/msh (dpa, KNA)