Ice wine harvest in the Moselle: winegrowers enthusiastic about perfect weather!

Ice wine harvest in the Moselle: winegrowers enthusiastic about perfect weather!

in the picturesque Moselle valley, known for its breathtaking wine landscapes, the winemaker Nik Weis has mastered a special challenge this year. On January 15, 2025, he was waiting for the perfect conditions for the ice wine harvest. This special type of wine requires temperatures of at least -7 degrees over several hours to harvest the frozen grapes. Weis let his grapes hang on the vines in autumn and was now able to win over 100 liters of ice wine, which corresponds to about 300 bottles. [Tagesschau.de] reports that he has worked on an area of ​​approx. 1,500 square meters.

But the ice wine harvest was not successful for all winemakers in the region. According to a survey, some grapes could not be read because they were no longer healthy enough. There is both success and failure among the 15 winegrowers who had registered ice wine spaces in the Moselle wine -growing region this year.

The peculiarities of the Moselle wine building

The Moselle region, which is considered the oldest wine -growing region in Germany, extends over 250 km along the Moselle River and its tributaries Saar and Ruwer. Here around 5,000 winegrowers at 8,536 hectares manage some of the steepest vineyards worldwide. Many grapes have to be harvested by hand, which, among other things, is conditional due to the steep, terraced areas that have the tendencies of over 30 degrees. Some wine slopes even reach up to 70 degrees. [Winesofgermany.com] refers to the challenges with which the winemakers are faced with the grape harvest.

The Moselle veneer specializes primarily in Riesling, which is 62.4% of the acreage. The region offers an optimal climate for viticulture with warm temperatures and sufficient precipitation. The floors are mainly made of slate, which gives the wines a unique character. [Winesofgermany.com] also mentions the main varieties of the region, including Müller-Thurgau and Elbling.

The wine market of the Moselle region

The wines are marketed both via cooperatives and through direct sales channels of the wineries. Sales to private end consumers are of great importance for minor wineries, especially due to increasing tourism. Every year, over 2 million overnight guests visit the Moselle region, which offers winegrowers additional sales options. [Weinland-mosel.de] emphasizes that many tourists buy directly from the winemaker and thus contribute to the local economy.

The export share in production was 28%in 2021, with the most important markets being the USA, China and Norway. In 2022, the wineries and winery of the Moselle exported around 205,000 hectoliters of wine worth 95 million euros. Around 70-75% of the wines are sold in the internal market, while the rest goes abroad.

The ice wine from Nik Weis, which is due to come onto the market in early 2026, will probably be available for 120 euros per bottle. This exclusivity could increase the attractiveness of the wine on the market, especially in view of the challenges that the winemakers had to cope with this year. The Moselle region remains not only an attractive goal for wine connoisseurs, but also a place where tradition and innovation go hand in hand.