Vineyards

After a winter that was too warm and dreary, a cool and rainy spring came. The wet weather ensured that the soil was well moistened. The continued cool temperatures delayed the budding of the vines and slowed it down until mid/late April. After that it finally slowly became warm and dry. Flowering in mid-June was rapid and was completed in just a few days. The annoying topic of too little precipitation caught up with us again in the summer of 2023. It didn't rain for us in May, June or July, so we took out the water barrels again and started watering our vines. Above all, the long heat period in July, with temperatures around 40°C, took a toll on our vines and the people working in the vineyard. Day and night temperatures of up to 27° degrees challenged the organism. The almost constant windy weather made plant protection measures more difficult and unfortunately brought fungal infections to our vineyards in some areas. Rain finally fell at the end of July. The good water supply and high temperatures ensured rapid ripening in August and we started the 2023 harvest on September 10th. The fact that this harvest also had to be carried out quickly was due to the challenge of rot and oidium infestation in the vineyards. Only through meticulous selection of healthy grapes in the vineyard were we able to harvest consistently high quality. The last reading day of the main harvest was October 6th. The quality and quantity of the 2023 vintage are very satisfactory. The young wines present themselves with a fine minerality, typical grape variety aromas and a fine, integrated acidity. We can look forward to wines with moderate alcohol and good aromatic expression. The 2023 vintage also has the “FAIR’N GREEN” logo on the labels. We have had ourselves certified in order to constantly work on and improve our sustainability in the vineyard, in the cellar and in marketing. Our aim is to preserve natural resources and protect the environment. We look forward to using a lot of commitment and energy to sustainably improve our winery for future generations and to fulfill our responsibility for people, nature and the climate. “WHAT WE DO TODAY DECIDES WHAT THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW.” (Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach)

After a mild winter and after the ground had soaked up a good supply of water, the growing season started and was not hampered by frost. Or, to be more precise, it didn't start. We waited and waited for the vines to bud, but this did not happen until mid-April, as the nights in March and April were simply too cold. On the other hand, rainfall in April was ample to replenish the ground water supply. Then, at the beginning of May, the first high temperatures arrived, accompanied by thunderstorms, and it looked as though the plants had just been waiting for the moment to shoot ahead, as it were. Fortunately this activity slowed down when the colder nights came in at the end of May. Flowering started at the beginning of June and developed quickly and positively due to the warm, stable temperatures. The first hot spell of 2022 then arrived, and the hottest day up to that moment, in Kitzingen, was 37.4 °C. It had not rained since mid-May, and this was very evident simply by looking at the soil at the end of June. At the beginning of July, the vines were starting to suffer and, as in 2018 and 2019, we had to water them. July was also warm and dry with temperatures between 25 °C and 35 °C, and the warm, dry weather continued in August. With temperatures up around 35 °C coupled with extremely powerful sunshine, it all became too much for some of our grapes. Like us humans, they sometimes tended to get sunburn and dry out. On 6 September, we started our second-earliest harvest ever with the red wine varieties and, after that, we moved on to the Silvaner grapes in the Lump vineyard. Since the Silvaner grapes coped best with the weather conditions that year, we harvested all our Silvaner grapes first. And then, from the middle of September on, the rain came, producing 90 mm of precipitation, and bringing cooler temperatures. We had to keep taking breaks during the harvest, but it was still one of the fastest harvesting periods ever. Only 24 days later, the main harvest had been stored in the cellar, which was two days less than in 2019. However, the quality and quantity of the vintage compensated us for an exhausting, intensive year of work in the vineyards. The alcohol levels are slightly above those of the 2021 vintage. The slow fermentation process, which was caused by the lower level of nutrients stored in the grapes and available to the yeast, due to the warm and sometimes hot temperatures, promises aromas that are typical for these grapes and well-structured wines.

The year 2021 started with snow, much to the delight of the children. The freezing temperatures accompanied us throughout January and February, but fortunately, the temperatures of minus 15 °C did not harm our vines. March also started relatively cool, but without any significant precipitation. Unfortunately, our hopes of replenishing the water levels in the ground with much-needed rain were not fulfilled. The relatively cool temperatures persisted into April, partly with frosty nights, which, however, did not cause any damage as the buds of the vines had not yet sprouted. With bud break not occurring until mid-May, the year up to this point was very different from the last three years. The weather remained cool and damp into June, but was still not wet enough to replenish the water stores in the soil. The vines began flowering only a few days later than the long-term average and this was concluded after seven days. After that, the weather was changeable and humid again, which offered ideal conditions for such fungal diseases as oidium and peronospora, which spread rapidly and which we had to combat with a large amount of leaf thinning and plant protection measures. With temperatures below 25 °C, we really did not feel we were in the middle of summer. August then brought us a few nice, warm days until it got cooler and wetter again towards the end. The grape harvest started unusually late on 17 September with the pinot noir grapes. Fear of the spotted-wing drosophila vinegar fly, which prefers the red-wine grapes for laying its eggs and against which there is no remedy, prompted us to take this step. The grape harvest was more difficult than ever, we had to interrupt the harvest work again and again because of rain. Since the grapes ripened only very gradually, the harvest dragged on until 31 October. After the 2018, 2019 and 2020 wine years, 2021 was completely different. That year showed us very clearly how much we depend on nature, live with it and, above all, have to work according to its whims. The previous three years were marked by rapid growth, water shortages and high-speed harvests. Now we have experienced again what extremely slow growth and too much rain means and what it means to have to extract every single Oechsle degree from Mother Nature. However difficult the year was in retrospect, we are very satisfied with the quality of the wine in our cellar and look forward to wines with a pleasant acid structure, moderate alcohol and tremendous aroma potential.

Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that things would be so different for us humans?! For our vines, however, it wasn't a special year! They didn't know that we humans had to deal with exit restrictions, travel and entry bans and contact restrictions. After a mild winter, the year started with relatively normal weather. The temperatures in April then rose to early summer values ??and led to the vines budding in mid-April. The temperatures remained around 25 degrees, which led to rapid growth of the vines. The lack of rain again made it difficult for us to decide whether to cut away the frost rod or leave it on. Luckily, our gut feeling was confirmed once again and the frost canes that were still standing were tied down after the frosty night on May 12th, ensuring that we still had a satisfactory 2020 harvest. But that shouldn't be nature's only unpredictability in 2020. As in recent years, the lack of water was once again a central issue. And although spring and summer felt like they weren't as nice and hot as the previous two years, there was a lack of water everywhere again. With only 190 mm of rainfall in the months of April - August, the vines again suffered from the dry spring and summer and in July we unpacked our water tanks for water transport and our irrigation pipes again. Especially the high ones Temperatures of over 30° Celsius at the beginning of August were a challenge for the vines. Just like the year before, the harvest started on September 12th with the early variety Bacchus! And then things continued like crazy again, within 3 weeks we had harvested 90% of our vineyards and stored them in the cellar! Then the humidity came and we had to adjust the days on which we could harvest our grapes based on the weather. We fought this year! We have learned to deal with the challenges that nature has presented to us and have been able to overcome almost every challenge with experience, passion and fighting spirit. However, the additional tasks and problems we faced as winemakers as a result of a pandemic pushed us to the limits of our performance. What our employees achieved with us this year was an enormous effort that we believe we mastered well. What ultimately ripens in our wine cellar is the result of overcoming a year like this with all the challenges, and in the end you can't tell from the wine how difficult the wine year was for us. The young wines are characterized by a flattering elegance. We were able to work out the typical characteristics of the individual grape varieties to perfection. The acid structure of the wines is spot on thanks to the good supply of water to the vines at the right time. We are looking forward to wines that will make 2020 go down in history not only because of Covid-19, but also because of our wines that grew in 2020.

The new year started in the same way as the year 2018 came to an end. The rain deficit of about 130 l / m² was not replenished in January, February and March due to lack of rainfall. The temperatures were consistently too warm compared to the long-term average. April started with normal temperatures, which became more summery by the middle of the month and led to a quick spurt. From late April to mid-May, the temperatures were mixed, unfortunately, the longed for rain did not fall. Nevertheless, the flowering of the vines began about 14 days before the long-term average and was already completed in mid-June. We waited, and waited, but he did not come, the rain .... As in the previous year, we supplied our vines with water from our local well and from the Main. That this was again the right decision this year, showed in the further course of the weather, which brought us no rain until the grape harvest. The August was with warm to very hot temperatures, too dry and the two hot days in mid of August with over 40 degrees burned not only precocious varieties such as Bacchus, but also Rieslings and even some red wines. September began with cool temperatures and very cold nights, which has created a great aroma in the grape. On the 12th of September we started the harvest with warm, luckily not too hot temperatures but still with cool nights, aswell. At the beginning oft he harvest no one thought of completing it after just 22 days later. If we would have written the last two years to have made the fastest harvest in the history of the winery, so 2019 showed that we had to be even faster and could! The question of whether we are traveling too fast, we asked ourselves more than once, the press ran 20 hours a day and the coffee pour in. That it was a good decision linsten to our own feeling was confirmed after exactly our last harvest day the 03.10. the rain finally came ... We are very happy with the musts that are fermenting in our wine cellar! Wines with moderate alcohol and an intense aroma paired with an appealing acidity.

Winter just wouldn't go away. The temperatures were cold until mid-March and brought the vineyard to a complete standstill. Then it suddenly got warm. Spring was canceled! From winter straight to summer! From April onwards we had an explosive budding and growth of the vines. Such incredibly fast vegetation was rare. The flowering of the vines in May was over quickly due to the dry and warm weather and the grapes enjoyed the ideal weather conditions and showed record development. The stage of ripening had already been reached in mid-July. The ongoing drought and the continued prospect of no rain prompted us to irrigate our vineyards. We pumped around 400,000 liters of water into our vineyards, which are equipped with drip irrigation. We supplied the remaining vineyards without stationary irrigation with water from the Main via over-crown irrigation. The weather remained warm and dry throughout August, indicating that we should prepare for the earliest harvest ever. It actually started on August 31st. Not as usual with the early varieties Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus but with Silvaner and Riesling. 14 days earlier than 2017! Despite the ongoing drought, our vines produced very good quality. Golden yellow grapes that looked like they were painted hung on the vines and gave us the choice of when to harvest. The only challenge was the persistent heat during the harvest. 5 weeks later, almost all of our grapes had been picked and stored in the cellar. Very intense fruit aromas and a pleasant acid structure promise a great 2018 vintage.

The Year 2017 began with a cold January and too little moisture for the grapes. In February and March then warm temperatures, the mild weather led to an early vine development, which was braked again in April by cool and wet weather. We were fortunately spared from the frosts that went through Franconia in April. The blissful month May was with warm temperatures, after the rains in April, ideal for a rapid growth of the vines. Warm but always rainy were the months of June, July and August. Also the September waited with a lot of rain and so began the harvest much earlier than in the years ago. The first Bacchus grapes were already harvested on September 13th, and one of the craziest grape-harvest we had ever seen in our winery began. The grape ripeness of the various vineyard sites and locations could not be more different. Only by constantly observing our grapes was it possible to determine the perfect harvest time for each individual vineyard. The fact that the location of Escherndorfer Lump is an outstanding location has clearly shown itself this year. When our Müller-Thurgau grapes, which were usually first harvest, had still too little 75 ° Oechsle, the Silvaner were already ripe in the lump and could be read by us with 96 ° Oechsle ... A crazy year in which the nature showed us once more, that we can only harvest what the nature gives us. 24 intensive days later the main harvest was finished. It was the fastest harvest in our winery at all. The damp weather followed us throughout the days, to harvest our grapes before the coming decay, we had to act quickly. The fermenting wines in the cellar show a beautiful and clear fruit aromatic, we expect elegant, fine-grained wines with a good structure which is supported by the acid!

The year 2015 ended with mild temperatures and the year 2016 began also. A mild winter and an average spring. This caused moderate growth in the vines. The water budget deficit of last year was replenished with the rainfall at the beginning of the year. At the end of April we were worried about the frost for our vines. Luckily the majority of our vineyards were spared, only about 5% of our vines were affected by frost. In the months of May and June it rained, and it rained and rained. The warm and constantly wet weather increased the pressure of fungal diseases in the vineyards. The blossom drew into the length and caused occasional seductions. Also the July was rainy. We had to cope with this period by means of a high workload and targeted plant protection measures in the vineyards. Thanks to the commitment of the team in the vineyard, we were able to continue to work satisfactorily with healthy grapes. Until to the end of the summer we become a constant warm weather returned. The hot September with temperatures of up to 38 ° C conjured us a smile in the face. The harvest began on September 16, to determine the right time to harvest the grapes was the challenge of this vintage. In many plants, 2 harvest rounds were necessary to reach the optimal ripeness point of the grapes. Fortunately, Petrus had once again rejoiced us and gave us a dry autumn. The main harvest was finished at the end of October and the hope to getting a ice wine this year. We would not have thought that our hopes would be fulfilled to this extent. We had many grapes on the vines, for the icewine-harvest outside. The wine of the year 2016, gave us ice wines from the grapes varitiey Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner and Riesling. The wines of the vintage shows us filigree and elegant mosts. The alcohol contents are approx. 0.5-1 vol. % Lower than in previous years. The wines are well structured and are characterized by a pronounced fruit aromatics.

The year of the sun. January started with snow and cold temperatures, which did not last long. February and March were an average of the last few years, as regards temperatures and rainfall. The shoot of the vines was medium early - about 1 week before the long-term cut. As early as May, the soil was no longer supplied with sufficient water because of the lack of rainfall. Nevertheless, the development of the vines progressed rapidly. The temperatures during the day were not too hot and the mild nights ensured an optimal vine growth without stress. That changed then in July, not only for the vines, but also for us. The persistent drought and the lack of rain allowed us to irrigate our vineyards. In the plants equipped with droplet irrigation, about 1 million liters of water were driven. All the other vineyards we sprinkled with our irrigation systems and water from the Main. We decided to make the right decision here, at the latest when the rain did not happen in August and the German heat cord was measured at 40.7 ° C not far from us in Kitzingen. It all looked like a year like 2003. We were amazed when we had the first juices in the cellar and the acid values ??were not as low as feared, despite the maturity of the grapes. Especially the Rieslings still had an acid of 10 g / l despite 100 ° Oechsle. The reading was thus simple. We harvested healthy and ripe grapes, and also the quantity was not lower than in recent years thanks to the adequate water supply of the grapes.

Due to the early vegetation and the beautiful, dry spring, the fear of the Ice Saints also increased. Fortunately, these had no consequences for us. Little to no frost damage was recorded in our vineyards. The further development is similar to the 2003 vintage. Due to unusually warm temperatures - the subtropical climate - we had to pay more attention to soil management. By breaking up the vegetation and applying mulch, the soil was kept moist with the few rains and light early fog. Great attention was paid to defoliation in order to allow light and air to the grapes and not to affect ripeness. Until mid-August, everything looked great: healthy grapes and healthy vines. But the closer autumn came, the more we worried about our grapes, which had to process the enormous amounts of water from August after the initial drought. Due to the rot, which spread very quickly due to the damp weather, we had to constantly check and select our grapes and carry out carefully considered soil and leaf work. Constant checks in the vineyard and cutting out unhealthy grapes were the order of the day. Our considerations about the optimal reading time resembled a classic sprint at the Olympics. If you start too early you are disqualified, if you start too late you lose. Applied to us, this means that harvested too early results in a lack of ripeness, and harvested too late results in rot. We harvested our Müller - Thurgau, Riesling, Scheurebe and Silvaner in two or three harvests in order to be able to press fully ripe, healthy grapes. We will still be able to tell the story of a harvest that was so short-lived and so labor-intensive for years to come. We can look forward to a vintage that presents itself with crystal-clear aromas and an origin-related style. The wines show moderate alcohol and integrated acidity.

A vintage that has asked for us! After an unusually cold winter, a very late sprout and a late bloom, the vines were able to shorten the large residue of about 3 weeks in the long-term mean by the partial sunny and warm summer by one week. In September the constant hoping for warm and dry weather and the anxiety about the health of our grapes began. Nature sets the tone, we clearly felt it in 2013. Although we had prepared our vineyards optimally for the harvest through 3 exfoliation runs at the beginning of August, September and October, prompt action and patience was required at the right time. We have preserved nerve strength and managed to harvest aromatic and healthy grapes. The vintage began in October 2 weeks later than in the last few years. Through several readings we were able to reap all classifications from Gutswein to the Grosse Gewächs. Since the harvest was low, we could only harvest a very small quantity of noble wines. The maturity and thus the alcohol contents are slightly below those of the last years. The cold temperatures especially at night have ensured that the wines already present a fine and elegant aromas.

After the vines sprouted in late April, we were anxious about the “Frost Saints” days in early May, but luckily the temperature did not drop too low. Thanks to the warm, dry spring, the vines grew very fast and blossomed eight to ten days earlier than the last years’ average. As the weather was cool in early June, the blooming period then lasted up to 14 days, resulting in loose-berried grapes. With a number of hot and dry days in summer, the vegetation head start of eight to ten days remained. Frequent light rains in late August and early September finally brought the vines the much-needed water. The grapes owe their ripeness and rich flavours primarily to the gorgeous late summer with its warm days and cool nights which significantly contributed to the excellent grape quality. This autumn was everything a winegrower can dream of: sunny, warm, little rain. The grapes were beautiful as a picture, ripe, yellow-green, and full of flavour. We enjoyed the luxury of being able to wait for the perfect time to harvest the different wine qualities. It was an autumn as in the lovely poem by Rainer Maria Rielke: “Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine; grant them a few more warm transparent days, urge them on to fulfilment then, and press the final sweetness into the heavy wine.“ We are looking forward to elegant, charming wines with a moderate alcohol content that are a pleasure to drink. They surprise us again and again with the complexity of their flavours, and we keep wanting more of them!

Every wine grower is ruled by the same calendar: As the previous year’s vintage is finalized, the new wine year starts. So the year starts already in October. We can look back at the vintage 2011 as an unusual year, stretching over months of ever-changing weather. Winter began in November, which was rich in snow and frost; spring followed, bringing extremely enjoyable mild weather. This climate leads to an unusually early budding of the vines. It felt as though summer had come early. However little did we know, that the night of the 3rd-4th May would bring a night with a bitter -5 degrees. The buds were frozen! This could have been a disaster for the 2011 crop but the advantageous aspect of the steep rocky slopes of Escherndorfer growing area provided protection for the grapes and luckily the bitter temperatures of the 3rd-4th May didn't cause irreparable damage. The rest of May and June was drier than normal. However skies then opened up and the rain that was so longed for finally came. Everyone sighed with relief.......Unbelievably the surprises did not relent. Hail followed the rain but due to the advantageous aspect of the Escherndorf lay the vines were protected. However the wine-growing year of 2011 finished with an Indian summer: beautiful temperatures, making it a hot end to a both exciting year. The pickers appeared in short trousers and with faces awash with smiles, 2 weeks earlier than in the previous years. The question on everyone’s lips: the wines? These could be as unusual as the growing season itself. The weather patterns have provided us with a pronounced gold yellow berry with optimal sugar content and acidity. The wines present themselves with a highly clear and intensive flavor. Their fine flavor and athletic body provide a well-balanced wine. There is a perfect balance of sweet and acid. There is no mistake that 2011 has produced an unbelievable drinking pleasure wine.

After a long, cold winter, the first warm rays of sunshine are balm for the soul. In 2010, we had to wait till April to enjoy them. The rainy, unsettled weather of this spring resulted in untypical flowering behavior in our vines. June and July were very dry, but the vines thrived because of the good moisture content of the soil. This year's August was one of the most rain-laden of recent years… but then it came, the Golden Autumn. Once again it made us the present the German poet Rilke described as: "…gathering the last nectar into the heavy grapes". Harvest started on 21 of September. Because of the small quantity, harvest was short: By the end of October, all grapes were in our cellars. Also in 2010, we were able to harvest all categories from the Qualitätswein over the Großes Gewächs to the Trockenbeerenauslese. All of them have distinct aromas harmoniously paired with some acidity to give the wines liveliness and longevity. There is but one setback: the lower harvest yield.

Luckily, our vines suffered no damage from the severe winter cold with up to minus 15°C in some parts of our vineyards. Spring started with summer-like temperatures, early sprouting, and a good growth of the saplings in April. The chilly, rainy weather in June resulted in slow flowering and a markedly poor fruit set in some parts. Irrespective of the not very summery July weather, the vines grew well and were 7 days in advance of the long-time growth average. With the good water supply and the warm temperatures in July and August, the grapes enjoyed optimum conditions. Harvest started in mid-September at almost summery temperatures and bright sunshine, which lasted till the end of harvest in late October. Picking healthy, golden-yellow grapes, we had one of the most relaxed harvests ever. The 2009 vintage turned out to be one of the three best vintages ever produced by our winery. The wines are crystal-clear and brilliant with delicate aromas. Juiciness and a crisp acidity together with a lean yet powerful body make for delightful wines with a character.

The extreme conditions of the year have demanded a great deal from us. After a relatively warm winter, a very steady and rapid shooting followed in early May, which was accompanied by early-summer temperatures of around 20 °C. Thus, the development of the vines progressed quickly. However, May turned out to be a very dry month so that the florescence had already begun in the beginning of June. High temperatures over month’s end July/August intensified an already tense water situation so that the vineyards needed to be watered. In the end of August, there was ample rainfall with up to 80 l/m2 within a very short period of time. On 15 September, the harvest of the early grape varieties started. There was rainfall again and again during the harvest, so much, so we had to take several breaks. Due to the rain we had to struggle for every degree on the “Oechsle scale” from the vineyard. Patience and perseverance were necessary. “The most difficult grape harvest I have encountered in the last 30 years!” declared Horst Sauer. The wines turned out to be of distinctive aroma with a robust tartness structure. The wines have a lot of flavour and good potential to store well. Thanks to this year’s cold winter we were able to harvest a Riesling and Silvaner ice wine.

A record-breaking spring! Very high temperatures and sunshine every day make the buds grow very fast. A summer of rather mediocre weather follows, but still we are about 3 weeks ahead of our regular schedule. We harvest the first grapes very early, on 12 September. Different states of ripeness of the grapes on one single vine, sometimes deviating by up to 20° Oechsle, demand that we harvest selectively and with great precision. Cool night temperatures enhance the formation of aroma in the grapes and preserve the acidity in the berries. This produces wines with an expressive, subtle fruitiness. Thanks to their low alcohol content, the wines have a delicate filigree character with some crisp acidity. The vintage is considered an ”early start” with a very long breath. The harvest is trying and takes almost 6 weeks.

When we started harvesting in late September, the grapes looked excellent. On 3 October it began to pour. 80 l of rain per square meter changed everything on the vineyards. The rain swelled the berries to bursting point. We had to be really quick to get the grapes in while they were still healthy. In record time, we rushed through harvesting and pressing. We were rewarded for our hard work: the 2006 wines turned out elegant, fine-limbed and with a reticent acidity. The botrytis (noble rot) enabled us to produce excellent sweet wines. The vintage goes down as the shortest and fastest in the history of the wine estate!

A lot of rain falls in the first two weeks of September. The grapes then start to rot - and now you have to hurry. The Öchsle grades are very good, so the harvest begins on September 19th. By picking out the rotten grapes, we get healthy grapes with moderate acidity. The harvest was successfully completed in the 2nd week of October. It was the fastest harvest in the history of the winery. The wines are a little less characterized by acidity than the 2004s but are very fruity and harmonious. You can be excited!

After the crazy 2003 vintage, some normality is returning to the vineyards. The budding of the vines and the ripeness of the grapes were at the long-term average. The harvest begins in mid-October, but with interruptions due to frequent rains and the wait for nicer weather. We finally did it in mid-November!! The 2004 vintage is wonderfully fruity and sparkling. Wines that are simply fun!

The solar year 2003 comparable to 1947 and 1976. Everything was ideal. Early budding of the vines. Warm, dry spring, very early flowering, then the hot, dry, super summer. In our winery, all measures were taken to delay the evaporation of the water in the soil. From mid-June onwards, all vineyards were irrigated. This enabled us to create optimal conditions for a great vintage. From the hot summer, the harvest started in mid-September, which was about 3 weeks earlier than the long-term average. The weather conditions during the harvest were optimal, with no rain - only sunshine for 3 weeks. The health of the grapes was optimal, only fully ripe, 100% healthy grapes that looked golden yellow and very juicy. The must weight was around 92° for Müller Thurgau, around 98° for Silvaner and around 100° Öchsle for Riesling. It was an exciting year. The first tastings show crystal-clear, juicy, fruity, dense and characterful wines with a lot of play. A vintage that you may only experience once in your winemaking life. Pure enthusiasm.