Night frosts in late spring in Germany’s wine-growing regions have raised concerns among winemakers about the possible impact on the harvest.
The German Wine Growers’ Association (DWV) fears that the cold temperatures could damage wine yields this year: “The frost at this time is so devastating because the vegetation is already well advanced after the recent months of record heat,” DWV chairman Klaus Schneider said on Friday to newspaper chain Funke Mediengruppe.
“The young, fertile shoots are now freezing, and the shoots that grow back may not be fertile,” he said.
This means that with the same wine care, vintners can expect lower yields or even yield losses over the course of the year, Schneider said.
Since last Sunday, night frosts, with temperatures dropping to minus 2.5 degrees, have caused serious damage in some wine-growing areas.
The size varied widely from region to region, Schneider said.
“However, some regions are reporting extreme damage. We expect the full extent of the damage will only become clear in the coming days,” he said.
