Grape Theft Strikes German and French Vineyards During Harvest Season

Police in the Rheinhessen wine region of Germany are investigating the theft of nearly all ripe Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc grapes from two vineyards in the Gundheim district. The incident, which took place sometime between September 6 and 14, has left two independent winemakers facing economic losses estimated at several thousand euros. The missing grapes were discovered by picking teams who arrived to begin the harvest, only to find that an 8,000-square-meter area had been stripped clean.

Authorities from the city of Worms, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, described the theft as “professional.” Police believe the culprits used a large vehicle or several means of transport to remove such a significant quantity of grapes. They have appealed to local residents for information and asked anyone with knowledge of suspicious activity in the area to contact the Alzey police station.

Grape theft is not new to European wine regions, but incidents like this highlight ongoing challenges for producers during harvest season. Mistakes can occur when neighboring vineyards are close together or have multiple owners, but police say this case appears deliberate and organized.

Similar incidents have been reported recently in France. In Burgundy’s Meursault appellation, two winemakers said portions of their 2025 vintage were missing. Domaine Vincent Latour reported on social media that about 2.8 tonnes of Chardonnay—enough for roughly 1,200 bottles—had disappeared. Initially thought to be an accident, the team now suspects theft. In another case in Pommard, a winery believed its grapes had been stolen before a neighbor admitted to a GPS error and returned the fruit.

In Champagne, concerns over grape theft have led some growers to form groups that guard their vines at night, supplementing regular patrols by local police. French news outlets have reported several cases of missing grapes and complaints from producers in both Burgundy and Champagne during this year’s harvest.

The economic impact of these thefts can be significant for small producers who rely on each year’s crop. As harvest season continues across Europe, winemakers remain vigilant against both accidental mix-ups and intentional crime. Police in Rheinhessen continue their investigation and hope that witnesses will come forward with information that could lead to those responsible for the recent heist.