Vintage Report 2024

VDP.VINTAGE 2024 – A REVIEW

Reason to celebrate – the 2024 vintage is in the cellar!

For many VDP.winegrowers, it will be remembered as an “endless harvest”. While some regions had already started harvesting at the end of August, others were still busy with the harvest at the end of October. A year marked by late frost and uneven ripening of the grapes, which required a careful eye, lots of experience, intensive manual work and, last but not least, a lot of patience.

But the waiting, worrying and intensive work have paid off and have resulted in high-quality grapes being brought to the cellars. The very different development in some areas has led to lower yields, but also to young wines of exceptional expressiveness and intense aromas.

The slow ripening in the fall produced surprisingly good grape quality, especially in the later-ripening varieties. The vintage will produce top-quality wines, despite the limited quantities due to the late frosts in spring.

Baden

While the southern wine-growing areas near Freiburg were hardly affected by the late frost, the more northerly regions faced the challenges of the weather with great dedication. Thanks to their commitment, however, grapes of exceptional quality were harvested in the end. While the quantities fluctuate regionally, the quality remains consistently high.

Franconia

The mild winter and rainy summer months demanded a lot of care, but the effort paid off – especially with Silvaner, which developed an impressive aroma. The 2024 vintage shows that less is often more. This year's wines are characterized by depth and power and reflect the dedication of the winegrowers in every glass.

Middle Rhine

In the Middle Rhine region, frost damage varied greatly depending on the location: While Bacharach was badly affected, Bopparder Hamm was largely spared. The rainy summer brought advantages for the vines thanks to the fast-drying southern slopes and stable soils. The harvest quantities varied, but the quality, especially of the Riesling, was excellent.

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

On the Saar and Ruwer, severe frost damage resulted in historically low yields.The wet weather required a great deal of effort in the vineyard. Despite these challenges, healthy, aromatic grapes were selectively harvested, indicating an interesting vintage.

Nahe

On the Nahe, the late frosts led to very different levels of damage, from completely spared to severely affected sites, which made vine care complex. Despite these challenges, the VDP.estates were able to ensure outstanding quality through targeted selection: the Rieslings promise a cool, elegant style.

Palatinate

The year was turbulent, with short dry spells for the work in the vineyard. The Burgundy grape varieties benefited from the dry harvest period, while Riesling needed longer to reach maturity. Overall, elegant Burgundy and classic Riesling wines emerged.

Rheingau & Hessische Bergstraße

The damage caused by the frost here varied greatly depending on the location and the rainy summer months placed high demands on plant protection. Nevertheless, the southern slopes of the Rheingau were able to compensate well for the conditions. Riesling in particular proved robust and developed a fine aroma.

Rheinhessen

The year began promisingly with a rainy start to the growing season. Thanks to patient work and stop-and-go harvesting, healthy, ripe grapes were brought in at the end. Rheinhessen is expecting a classic cool-climate vintage, characterized by a long growing season.

Saxony/Saale-Unstrut

The late frost hit the region hard, resulting in a harvest of only 20% of the usual quantity. Despite the disaster, the winegrowers are satisfied with the quality. The 2024 vintage is supported by reserves from previous years.

Württemberg

The vintage brought lower yields, but excellent aromas and a pleasant freshness, especially in the Riesling. The red wines also benefited from the cool conditions, which gave them an appealing acidity. Overall, it was an exhausting but aromatically promising harvest.