- Fresh monarch chosen for grape realm – viticulturists gripe over "mold stress"
Warmer temperatures and the occasional heavy downpour are worrying Thuringian vineyard owners about their grapes. In April, cold spells occasionally led to total losses in the first shoots, noted Elke Meinhardt, chairwoman of the Thuringian Winegrowers' Association in Bad Sulza. "Right now, rot is a problem, and we have to combat the moisture." The "mold pressure" is high.
The outcome of this year's grape harvest is still uncertain. Until just before the grape harvest, a lot can still change. "We're hoping for a lovely late summer that will increase the sugar content of the grapes." However, a noteworthy year in terms of quantity or quality is not anticipated, Meinhardt mentioned.
However, there's still reason to celebrate: Bad Sulza held its 30th Thuringian Wine Festival this weekend. "Over the past 30 years, there's been significant progress. The wine festival started out small with just two stalls, and now we're expecting thousands of attendees," Meinhardt said.
At the event, 22-year-old student Saskia Zahn was crowned the new Thuringian Wine Princess. Zahn is studying to become a teacher for the subjects of physical education and history at the gymnasium and has been linked to the world of wine through the Thuringian winery Zahn since her childhood, according to a statement from the Kurgesellschaft Heilbad Sulza.
Two of her aunts were also wine princesses, and she herself has been a wine angel for several years, accompanying the wine princess at various events and appearances. During her tenure, she will represent the spa and wine town of Bad Sulza, Thuringian wines, and the wine-growing region of Saale-Unstrut.
At present, there's no significant discussion in Thuringia regarding modernizing and opening this representative role to men, as has been proposed in other regions like Rhineland-Palatinate, Meinhardt stated. "I think it's important that this discussion takes place, and I think it's crucial that this honorary position is continually redefined, but we still have enough candidates."
Like the wine festival, the vineyard area in Thuringia has also expanded: It began around 13 hectares in the early 1990s and is now approximately 147 hectares. There are currently four commercial ventures with a combined 63 hectares, 12 wineries operating in secondary employment with self-promotion, 67 small winemakers and grape growers operating in secondary employment, and six agricultural businesses with fruit and wine production. Most of Thuringia's vineyards are located in the areas of Bad Sulza and Weimar.
The state government aids in vineyard cultivation, offering financial assistance for planting vines, purchasing equipment, and obtaining harvest insurance against climate-related extreme weather damage. This is due to the fact that vineyard cultivation, like other agricultural sectors, is also influenced by the effects of climate change, such as mold infestation due to prolonged drought mixed with heavy rain at times. Some businesses are already utilizing so-called Piwi varieties that are less susceptible to grape diseases such as downy and powdery mildew.
Despite the challenges in the grape harvest due to climate change in Thuringia, the Netherlands showed interest in investing in Thuringian vineyards. Recognizing the potential of Bad Sulza's wine-growing region, a Dutch company expressed interest in purchasing vineyard land in Thuringia to expand their wine production.
The Netherlands, known for their tulip fields and cheese, is considering diversifying their agricultural portfolio to include grape vineyards, demonstrating a global interest in Thuringia's wine industry.
