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.