2018 Germany & Mosel Riesling Vintage
Germany's largest harvest since 1999 delivered ripe, sun-drenched Rieslings with generous fruit, elevated must weights, and a new kind of crowd-pleasing warmth.
2018 was one of the hottest and most bountiful vintages in German wine history, with the April-to-July period recording the highest temperatures since weather observations began in 1881. Total harvest volume came in roughly 23% above the ten-year average, the largest German crop since 1999, driven by exceptional sunshine, low disease pressure, and an early harvest. The result is a vintage of ripe, accessible Rieslings that reward early drinking, though the finest sites and most selective producers also made wines of real depth and age-worthiness.
- The April-to-July 2018 period was the warmest four-month stretch in Germany since regular weather recording began in 1881, exceeding even the famous 2003 heatwave for that specific window
- The 2018 grape harvest began as early as August 6 in Rheinhessen, the earliest recorded start-date in German wine history, with Riesling picked from mid-September onward
- Germany's total 2018 harvest volume reached approximately 9.8 million hectoliters, around 23% above the ten-year average of 8.8 million hectoliters and the largest crop since 1999
- The Mosel region alone saw volume increase roughly 36% versus 2017, with approximately one million hectoliters produced; the Mittelrhein saw the largest regional jump at an estimated 64%
- Must weights were exceptionally high, with average Oechsle readings of around 94 degrees and peaks exceeding 120 degrees Oechsle in some sites; acidity levels were lower than normal
- Disease pressure was nearly absent throughout the vintage thanks to prolonged dry conditions, delivering exceptionally healthy, clean fruit across virtually all regions
- 2018 stands alongside 2003 and 2019 as one of the three hottest summers in Germany's recorded history, yet producers who applied meticulous vineyard management achieved elegant, balanced wines
Weather & Growing Season Overview
The 2018 season was defined from the outset by exceptional warmth, not by frost. April 2018 was the warmest on record in Germany, triggering early budburst and flowering. June and July brought a heatwave lasting more than seven weeks, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius. A drought that began as early as February intensified through the summer, affecting around 90% of German territory by August. Vines with deep root systems coped well, but young vines required irrigation. The combination of extreme sunshine and low humidity almost entirely eliminated disease pressure, meaning growers delivered remarkably healthy, clean fruit to the cellar. Harvest began in mid-August for early-ripening varieties and in mid-September for Riesling, wrapping up by mid-October, roughly three weeks ahead of the long-term average.
- April-July 2018 set an all-time temperature record for Germany, surpassing the equivalent period in 2003 by around 1.6 degrees Celsius
- Harvest of the first Federweißer grapes began August 6 in Rheinhessen, the earliest recorded start-date in German wine history
- Drought and heat eliminated oidium, peronospora, and other fungal disease pressure almost entirely, yielding exceptionally clean, healthy berries
- Riesling harvest ran from mid-September through mid-October, some three weeks earlier than the historical average
Regional Highlights Across Germany
Every one of Germany's 13 official wine regions benefited from the warm, dry growing season, though the degree of volume increase varied considerably. The Mosel saw approximately a 36% jump in volume versus 2017 and produced roughly one million hectoliters; growers reported picture-perfect, healthy grapes and joyous anticipation at harvest. The Mittelrhein recorded the largest regional volume increase, estimated at 64% above 2017. Pfalz wines showed firm, intense profiles, with estates such as A. Christmann and Bassermann-Jordan particularly acclaimed. The Rheingau produced generous, attractive wines, with Robert Weil's Gräfenberg GG noted for its charming fruit and balance. The Ahr region harvested a crop 45% larger than 2017, with sugar contents described as unprecedented; acidity, however, was lower than normal, as was the case across Germany.
- Mosel: approximately one million hectoliters harvested, up around 36% from the very small 2017 vintage; grapes described as picture-perfect and disease-free
- Pfalz: firm, concentrated dry wines led by A. Christmann and Bassermann-Jordan, recognised as top performers at the 2019 VDP Weinbörse preview
- Rheingau: Robert Weil Gräfenberg GG 2018 praised for generous, attractive fruit; Domdechant Werner and Spreitzer also impressed critics
- Ahr: volume up roughly 45% on 2017; sugar levels described as 'unprecedented proportions,' though with correspondingly lower acidity
Standout Producers & Wines
The top lineups at the VDP Weinbörse preview in Mainz came from the Mosel and Pfalz, according to Wine Spectator's assessment. Karthäuserhof's 2018 Karthäuserhofberg Grosses Gewächs stood out for its purity and seamless harmony, with tropical fruit, minerality, and acidity all contributing to its appeal. From the Middle Mosel, Knebel, Schloss Lieser, and Maximin Grünhaus also drew praise. Joh. Jos. Prüm in Wehlen remained a benchmark for the off-dry and naturally sweet categories, with the estate's Wehlener Sonnenuhr wines representing the Mosel's capacity for generous, age-worthy Riesling in a warm year. Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen and Fritz Haag in Brauneberg further demonstrated that precise, selective harvesting rewarded producers in this high-must-weight vintage. The 2018 vintage proved particularly strong for the off-dry category, with Mosel Fine Wines describing those wines as among the most subtle and refined they had tasted.
- Karthäuserhof Karthäuserhofberg GG 2018: praised for purity, seamless harmony, and the integration of tropical fruit, minerality, and acidity
- Joh. Jos. Prüm (Wehlener Sonnenuhr): benchmark Mosel estate for off-dry and naturally sweet Riesling; wines known for exceptional longevity
- Selbach-Oster (Zeltingen) and Fritz Haag (Brauneberg): recognised for selective harvesting that yielded polished, precise 2018 Rieslings
- Off-dry Prädikat wines (Kabinett, Spätlese) rated as a highlight of the vintage by specialist Mosel critics; some estates also managed late Eiswein selections in early 2019
Drinking Window & Cellaring Potential
The vintage's defining character, ripe fruit underpinned by milder-than-usual acidity, means that most 2018 Rieslings were accessible and pleasurable from release. Wine critics and specialist publications noted that the wines are very easy to enjoy young, unlike the more austere, higher-acid vintages such as 2016 or 2021. Kabinett and Spätlese examples at their best offer a window through to 2028 or 2030. Wines from the finest Mosel sites, where slate soils and cool nocturnal temperatures helped preserve freshness, have more structural backbone and should repay patience. The rare Auslese, Beerenauslese, and Eiswein selections from 2018 have the sugar and extract to age for two decades or more. The wine's opulent style means it is best matched with dishes that appreciate a degree of fruit weight rather than austere minerality.
- Kabinett and Spätlese from good producers: drink 2024-2030; top examples may extend further, supported by fruit weight rather than driving acidity
- Grosses Gewächs and premier-cru-level dry Rieslings: ideally drinking 2024-2032, offering ripe concentration balanced by natural freshness
- Auslese and noble-sweet selections (rare in 2018): minimum 15-year aging potential; Eiswein examples from early 2019 harvests may last considerably longer
- The vintage's hallmark approachability means secondary and tertiary notes develop more rapidly than in leaner years; check bottles from top estates from 2026 onward
Vintage Character & Style Profile
Two distinct styles emerged within 2018, even within individual estates. The warmer and riper expression is the more common one: generous stone fruit and citrus concentration, mild acidity, elevated must weights trending toward Spätlese and Auslese ripeness, and a soft, welcoming texture that made these wines immediately enjoyable. A second, zestier expression also exists, produced by estates that managed canopy carefully, harvested earlier or more selectively, and preserved natural freshness. Mosel Fine Wines noted this internal duality and warned that generalisations about the vintage are less useful than wine-by-wine assessment. In Baden, some producers reported that careful leaf removal allowed them to maintain elegant, balanced wines at moderate alcohol despite record-breaking heat. The distinctive Schieferton (slate minerality) of the Mosel remained present in top-site wines, though it is less prominent than in cooler years.
- Ripe stone fruit (peach, apricot), citrus (lime, grapefruit), and tropical fruit dominate the aromatic profile across most 2018 Mosel Rieslings
- Must weights averaging around 94 degrees Oechsle across premium sites, with peaks above 120 degrees; acidity levels noticeably lower than in 2016, 2019, or 2021
- Two styles within the vintage: a broad, ripe, approachable mainstream and a fresher, more structured expression from estates with precise canopy and harvest management
- Slate minerality (Schieferton) persists in top Mosel sites; secondary notes of petrol and dried herbs emerge with bottle age
Critical Reception & Trade Perspective
Initial critical enthusiasm was high. Jancis Robinson, who tasted around 160 Riesling 2018s at the Mainz Weinbörse, reported enjoying them a lot, dismissing concerns about large yields and lack of concentration as generally unwarranted. Wine Spectator described 2018 as Germany's fifth straight vintage of outstanding or better quality. Mosel Fine Wines offered a more nuanced view: acknowledging the vintage's crowd appeal and easy drinkability while noting a frequent sense of softness and warning that selective recommendations were more useful than broad generalisations. Some specialist critics expressed concern that producers who left grapes on the vine too long sacrificed freshness for overripeness. The strong volume recovery after the very small 2017 harvest was broadly welcomed by the trade, with the largest crop since 1999 allowing estates to replenish depleted stocks at competitive prices.
- Wine Spectator: 2018 on pace to be Germany's fifth consecutive vintage of outstanding or better quality; top lineups from Mosel and Pfalz at VDP preview
- Jancis Robinson: tasted around 160 Mosel and Nahe 2018s at Mainz Weinbörse and 'enjoyed them a lot'; dismissed yield concerns as generally unwarranted
- Mosel Fine Wines: acknowledged ripe, clean flavours and easy drinkability, but warned of occasional softness and emphasised wine-by-wine selectivity over blanket assessments
- Trade perspective: volume up roughly 23% on the ten-year average restored depleted stocks after tiny 2017; the largest German harvest since 1999 kept prices accessible