Vintners in the regions of Saale and Unstrut express concern over grape harvesting due to excessive rainfall
In the picturesque town of Bad Sulza, the 31st Wine Festival took place, marking a significant moment as Roksolana Hlynchak was crowned the new Thuringian Wine Princess. This event, however, was held against the backdrop of a challenging wine-growing season.
The quality of the Thuringian wine this year is commendable, despite massive losses due to the frost in April 2024. According to a report by the Thuringia Journal, this frost resulted in a harvest of only 30 percent of the annual average. The impact on the wine industry was substantial, but the spirit of resilience among the winegrowers remains unwavering.
Andreas Clauß, the president of winegrowing in Thuringia, expressed his concerns about the intense rain and the previous night's rainfall. He stated that the grapes are taking on more water than their skin can expand, leading to tearing and mold growth. However, for late varieties with firm skin, the rain was beneficial, he added.
The winegrowing industry in Thuringia is not just limited to a few businesses. Five businesses derive their main income from winegrowing, and 17 more do so secondarily or as part of fruit production. The main winegrowers currently involved in wine harvesting include the largest estate in Bad Sulza, managed by Kathrin Clauß, and the Agrargenossenschaft Gleina near Weimar, managing 46 hectares with 19 grape varieties, mostly white wines like Riesling and Müller-Thurgau.
Despite the challenges, winegrowers are optimistic about the upcoming harvest. They plan to start harvesting Solaris and early Pinot Noir in the next or following week. Winegrowers along the Saale and Unstrut rivers, however, express worries about their harvest due to heavy rainfall.
The cultivation of varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Kerner, Riesling, and various red wine varieties is carried out by hobby winemakers and associations. There are 72 hobby winemakers in the Free State, contributing to the rich diversity of Thuringian wines.
The first winemakers in Thuringia have already started the harvest, despite a large part of the harvest being destroyed due to the frost. This tenacity and determination are a testament to the resilience of the Thuringian wine industry.
The Thuringia Journal has been actively reporting on the progress of the wine harvest and the impact of the frost on the wine industry. On September 5, 2025, they provided a summary of the day, which included a report on the wine harvest in Thuringia. The report is available on their website for those interested in learning more about this exciting time in Thuringian wine history.
Winegrowing in Thuringia holds a local economic significance, particularly in the Bad Sulza and Großheringen region, where it positively impacts tourism and gastronomy. The annual wine festival is a celebration of this rich tradition and a testament to the spirit of community that binds the winegrowers of Thuringia.
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