1999 VINTAGE REPORT
Germany Finishes The Century with Another Great Vintage
Mainz, Germany, Dec. 7 1999
The last German wine harvest of the twentieth century the decade-long string of exceptional
vintages. Once again, the 1999 vintage provides sufficient quantities of high-quality wines,
according estimates recently released by the German Wine Institute. According to Armin
Göring, managing director of the German Wine Institute in Mainz, "The 1999 vintage adds the
crowning touch to a decade of good and very good vintages. The finest wines of this vintage
will offer pleasure well into the next century."
This year's harvest was abundant compared with the size of the crop during the past few
years. Preliminary estimates from the German Wine-Growers' Association and regional groups
range from 13 to 13.2 million hectoliters, similar to the quantities harvested in 1992 or
1989. All quality/ripeness levels through Beerenauslese have been harvested and growers are
still hoping to harvest Trockenbeerenauslese or Eiswein from the last few bunches remaining
on the vines. One hallmark of the 1999 vintage is its ripe, harmonious and well-integrated
acidity. Wines vinified in a dry style will benefit from this, and in general the white wines
are likely to be very smooth and enjoyable even in their youth. This year's reds are
remarkably deep in color, due primarily to the exceptionally healthy crop. Some 23 percent of
Germany's vineyard area is now planted with red grape varieties.
The Growing Season
Compared with recent years, there was considerable precipitation during the winter. This
provided the soil with an excellent water supply and contributed to a timely bud break and
healthy foliage. Mild weather in the spring spared the young shoots from a late frost.
Vintners were equally pleased with weather conditions during blossoming, the second critical
phase of the growing season. Unseasonable warm temperatures in late May led to explosive
growth. The regular intervals between sunshine and rainfall, as well as warm weather - nearly
tropical at times - throughout the vegetation period throughout the vegetation period led to
optimism in terms of quality and yield.
Patience Paid Off
As is often the case, 1999 confirms that a vintage can only be judged once the grapes have
been picked. Due to the long, warm and exceptionally sunny period of dry weather that lasted
well into late summer, the grapes ripened to a greater extent far earlier that the long-term
average. Must weights - the measure of ripeness - rose quickly, and with them, great
expectations that were slightly dampened by some rainfall in late September. In retrospect,
however, the precipitation was a blessing for the wine-growers who patiently waited for a
"golden October." Their patience paid off. The late-ripening varieties, such as Riesling and
Spätburgunder (pinot noir), benefited from the extra period of growth brought on by the
moisture. A dry period of warm weather followed and yielded outstanding results.
Vintners and wine lovers alike can view the 1999 vintage as a superb finale to the 20th
century.
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