Germany's wine industry is heading toward an outstanding vintage in terms of quality, even as persistent drought threatens to reduce overall yields, the German Winegrowers' Association said Wednesday.
DWV President Klaus Schneider, speaking at a press conference in Oestrich-Winkel, noted that low rainfall could result in lower production volumes this year. Rheingau winemaker Matthias Corvers echoed the optimism on quality, saying the flavour profile of the vintage already looks very promising.
The sector, however, faces headwinds from a declining wine market, pest infestations, and tightening regulatory requirements. Schneider called for a halt on new vine plantings from 2027 through 2029. Vineyard area in Germany already fell by one percent in 2025, according to the German Wine Institute.
In a related boost, the European Union announced in July it would subsidise the distillation of red and rosé wines from Rheinhessen and Württemberg, providing 14.16 million euros to process up to roughly 24 million litres.