- Exploring Wine Reviews in Baden's Vineyards
Down south of Freiburg, the grape harvest for this year has officially commenced. At the renowned Wolfgang and Andreas Loeffler vineyard in Staufen im Breisgau (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district), workers are currently picking the early Solaris grape variety. These grapes will be transformed into Federweißer, a semi-fermented grape juice, which will swiftly make its way into local markets and businesses.
As reported by the Baden Winegrowers' Association, this winery in Breisgau is among the first in the vast growing region to initiate the grape harvest. The primary harvest is anticipated to kick off in early September, as per the association's executive director, Holger Klein.
Water contributes to mold outbreaks
Klein affirmed that the rain has been beneficial for the vine growth. However, the unpredictable weather can also pose challenges for winemakers in specific areas, such as mold outbreaks. Both false and true mildew, along with grey rot, are recognized as the main threats to the vines.
In order to secure a healthy grape harvest in the autumn, the vines are treated with agricultural chemicals in conventional viticulture. On the other hand, disease-resistant grape varieties, often referred to as Piwi varieties, require minimal chemical intervention.
Legislation sets wine standards
By law, Federweißer is not classified as wine, but rather "semi-fermented grape juice." The Wine Act incorporates regulations on distillation, quality controls, and recognition of eligible vineyard regions for both quality wines and predicate wines.
In terms of vineyard size, Baden and Württemberg in Germany stand at the third and fourth positions, respectively. Larger regions include Rheinhessen and Pfalz.
The Baden Winegrowers' Association mentioned that The Breisgau, specifically Staufen im Breisgau, is one of the first areas to start the grape harvest this year. Despite the beneficial rain for vine growth, unpredictable weather can lead to challenges, such as mold outbreaks, which are major threats to the vines.
