Federweissen vintage starts in Rhineland-Palatinate

“According to the current stand of the grapes, the conditions for a good vintage 2010 are ideal. Right now, it is in the average of the past 10 years”, says DWI-spokesman Ernst Büscher. The cold weather during the blossom lead to a lower fruit yield in many wine regions. Thus, a medium yield amount of about 9 million hectar liters can be expected, which is still the average of the past few years, says Büscher.

Thanks to the rain in August, the grapes have been treated with water and nutrients. Now, vintagers hope for a sunny late summer, so that the grapes of the late-ripening types can fully mature in the coming weeks. According to the German Wine Institute (DWI) the start of the main vintage cannot be expected until middle September. (aw.yoopress)