2003 VINTAGE REPORT

2003 German Wine Vintage
- Absolutely Exceptional!

March 12, 2004

MAINZ, Germany Excellent growing conditions in virtually all wine regions of Germany in 2003 helped to produce another outstanding vintage for German wines. The 2003 harvest continues an uninterrupted string of fine vintages for German wines that now stretches well into the new millennium.

The annual harvest report by the Deutsche Weinbauverband (German Winegrowers' Association) confirms a lower volume of production in 2003 - approximately eight million hectoliters of must - but ripeness levels expressed in degrees Oeschsle (brix on the North American scale) were well above average and exceptional.

As a result, an overwhelming majority of the harvest will produce higher quality Prädikatswein. And many of these wines, in particular, reportedly went into the cellars with record breaking starting must weights.

The QbAs and Kabinett wines are very impressive. The wines are vigorous, full-bodied with a very mild fruity acidity that clearly reflects the positive effects of the abundant sunshine during the growing season. This balance makes them very accessible and very drinkable at a young age.

German red wines, a fast growing wine segment in Germany that now accounts for over 25 per cent of production also greatly benefited from the abundant sunshine. German red wine varietals are described as very compact and intense in colour and should hold their own against top-quality counterparts on the international scene.
More of these wines should start to appear on the export markets.

Given the lower yields of the 2003 harvest, a high proportion of luscious sweet wines were selected by producers for Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines.

And many producers still were able to harvest some very exciting Eiswein. The last wave of Eiswein harvest took place in late January in the Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Nahe Regions.

Observed Armin Göring, Director of the Deutsches Weininstitut in Mainz: "The potential of this vintage is so great that even our grandchildren a generation from now will find the 2003 vintage a pleasure to drink."

A preliminary summary of the 2003 harvest results by region, together with a snapshot of the 2002 vintage compared to other harvests over the past decade, please find below.

Source: German Winegrowers' Association

12.03.04