Thuringia Winemakers Anticipate Strong Harvest After Challenging Year

The recent stretch of sunny late summer weather is bringing optimism to winemakers in Thuringia, Germany. After a difficult 2024 season marked by frost damage and low yields, vineyard owners in the region are expecting a much better harvest this year. The largest winery in Thuringia, located in Bad Sulza near Weimar, is seeing positive developments as the grapes continue to ripen under favorable conditions.

Kathrin Clauß, who manages the 50-hectare estate in Bad Sulza, explained that the combination of recent rainfall and current sunshine is ideal for grape maturation. Workers are currently removing some underripe grapes from the vines to ensure a more uniform ripening process across the vineyard. This practice helps improve the overall quality of the harvest.

The first small batches of grapes are scheduled to be picked next week. These early harvests will be used for the Federweißenfest, a traditional festival held on the third weekend of September that celebrates the new wine of the season. The main grape harvest is expected to begin shortly after the festival.

Sebastian Didt from Agrargenossenschaft Gleina, which cultivates 46 hectares of vineyards around Weimar, said preparations for the harvest are well underway. He noted that both yield and quality look promising this year, a stark contrast to last year’s losses caused by a late April frost that affected many wine and fruit growers in the region.

Despite heavy rains in recent weeks, there have been no significant problems with rot or disease among the grapes so far. The Gleina cooperative grows 19 different grape varieties near Weimar, focusing mainly on white wines such as Riesling and Müller-Thurgau.

According to Thuringia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, five wineries in the state operate as their primary business, while another 17 produce wine as a secondary activity or as part of broader fruit farming operations. The improved weather conditions this season have raised hopes among these producers for a successful vintage after last year’s setbacks.