Drought cuts Germany’s grape harvest to 2010 levels

Germany’s 2026 grape harvest could be one of the smallest in the past 16 years. According to the German Wine Institute, production is expected to be around 20% below the 10-year average and could fall close to the 2010 level, when output totaled about 7.1 mln hectoliters.

Germany’s Federal Statistical Office gives a somewhat higher estimate of around 8 mln hectoliters. This would be 4% below the 2020–2025 average, but still above the 7.7 mln hectoliters harvested last year.

The main reason for the weaker crop was the hot and dry summer. Moisture shortages resulted in smaller grapes, reducing actual juice yields during pressing compared with earlier estimates made in September.

Conditions varied significantly depending on vine age and soil water-holding capacity. Older vines with deeper root systems coped better with the drought, while younger vineyards and plantings on lighter soils suffered more.

Around 70% of the expected harvest will consist of white grape varieties and about 30% of red grapes. More than half of total output is expected to come from Rheinhessen and the Palatinate, while grape quality is still considered high despite the smaller crop.

Tags: weather conditions, drought, Germany, grapes