2011 Germany & Mosel Riesling Vintage

A summer-like spring brought one of the earliest flowerings in German vineyards since records began, and the warm weather was welcome in Germany. Harsh night frosts in early May did medium to heavy damage in some regions: Rheinhessen, Franken, Wurttemberg, Rheingau, Pfalz and Nahe; foot-of-slope sites, hollows and low-lying ground were hit hardest. From June to August the weather turned cool and damp, with too much rain in July and hail in places (Wurttemberg, Pfalz, Mittelrhein, Franken). The cool, damp spell from mid-July to mid-August slowed ripening, trimming a head start of about three weeks to about two. Then came a golden September, and picking began in September 2011, one of the earliest harvests ever in Germany and even earlier than 2003. Cool nights and warm days let the harvest run without pressure, and the fine late summer allowed picking to stretch far into October; on the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, picking was still going when the crop was otherwise largely in. Mosel producer Nik Weis of St. Urbans-Hof said the harvest benefited from warm, dry weather throughout most of September and October. Yields at VDP estates averaged about 50 hl/ha, above average where storms and frost had spared the vines, and considerably higher than the very small 2010 crop.

• A summer-like spring brought one of the earliest flowerings in German vineyards since records began
• Early May night frosts damaged vineyards in Rheinhessen, Franken, Wurttemberg, Rheingau, Pfalz and Nahe
• Cool, damp weather from mid-July to mid-August cut a head start of about three weeks to about two
• Mosel, Saar and Ruwer growers were still picking when the 2011 crop was otherwise largely in

Early botrytis and rot were met promptly with a preliminary pick, and selective hand harvesting was essential to keep the grapes healthy. They stayed healthy and reached full ripeness, so that alongside excellent dry wines, not a few top noble-sweet wines were picked in the best sites. Average must weights at VDP estates, across regions and varieties, were 85 to over 100 degrees Oechsle, and some estates brought in Trockenbeerenauslese at over 300 degrees Oechsle at the end of the harvest. The calm harvest gave grapes earmarked for Grosses Gewachs time to reach optimal ripeness. In the Mosel, Weis named potentially high yields as the challenge: "If you didn't decide on making rigorous green harvesting or hadn't pruned short canes in the first place, you ended up with tremendously high yields."

• Average must weights of 85 to over 100 degrees Oechsle across regions and varieties at VDP estates
• Some estates picked Trockenbeerenauslese at over 300 degrees Oechsle late in the harvest
• Early botrytis and rot were countered by a preliminary pick; selective hand harvesting was essential

The VDP's first statements spoke of excellent wines with piquant acidity, high minerality and density, and of young musts that were very clear and finely fruity. There was no single trend: because of the weather, differences between regions, and even within a region, a site or a vineyard, were very large. VDP president Steffen Christmann said the estates had brought in "a fully ripe, high-quality vintage" (translated), adding that whether 2011 could join the legendary "Elfer" vintages of 1811 and 1911 would only be clear at the young-wine tastings in spring. Wine Spectator reported that German vintners expected very good to excellent quality, with firm, rich wines with good acidity, and production nearly back to normal after a very small 2010. For the Mosel, Weis added: "2011 is a vintage which requires patience."

• No single trend, with very large differences between regions, sites and even vineyards
• Very good to excellent quality expected, with firm, rich wines and good acidity (Wine Spectator)