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Radebeul. Due to the expected enormous losses as a result of the late frosts in April, Saxon Federweißer is a rarity this year. The usual harvest of early ripe grapes at the beginning of September has largely failed to materialize.
The popular young wine will, according to the Saxony Winegrowers Association in the Elbe Valley between Dresden-Pillnitz and Diesbar-Seußlitz almost exclusively with grapes or drops from other growing regions. Most Elbe Valley winegrowers are allowing the fruit hanging on the vines to ripen this time.
Also in the state winery Wackerbarth Castle In Radebeul, unlike usual, no grapes for Federweißen are harvested from its own vineyards at the beginning of September. However, the specialty will still be available at the Federweißerfest on 7/8 September, "just like in the frosty years of 2009 and 2013," says spokesman Martin Junge. Thanks to the help of a fellow winemaker friend, "we make it from selected Palatinate grapes".
Federweißer only on its way to becoming wine
Federweißer is the first grape juice of the year. The grape must, which is in the process of turning into a white wine, is popular and is even celebrated in many places. It owes its name to tiny yeast particles which, whirled up by the carbon dioxide, dance like little feathers in the semi-finished white wine.
Radebeul winegrower Karl Friedrich Aust, meanwhile, has a few vines in his vineyards "that look pretty good". Guests will be able to taste fresh Federweißen on the Open Winery Day on August 24/25. This is important in this wine-growing and cultural landscape with tourist significance, he said - and hopes that he will also be able to offer the young wine from a few of his own Bacchus grapes Federweißen. "But we will be buying in Federweißen in bottles."
In the Hoflößnitz right next door has already withdrawn from the production of early grape juice in recent years. "We make highly concentrated organic wines from the region," said cellar master Felix Hößelbarth. "This season, too, we are therefore trying to bring all the grapes that are hanging to optimum ripeness."
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Despite all efforts, 2024 will not be a good wine year in Saxony. The winegrowers' association expects that only 20 to 30 percent of a normal harvest will make it into the cellars. Some winegrowers are talking about a total loss, despite green leafy vineyards. Georg Prinz zur Lippe estimates the loss for his winery as follows Proschwitz Castle to 80 percent. He has just driven thousands of kilometers to get replacement grapes for the 2024 vintage that ripen on similar soils to those in his vineyards - and found what he was looking for in the Kaiserstuhl region. (dpa)
