An Outlook on the 2025 Vintage
As of early August, the grapes are in very good health. The moderate yield, good soil moisture, and cooler temperatures from mid-August onward (around four weeks before the start of harvest) leave us feeling highly optimistic. Everything currently points to a vintage with tremendous potential.
The growing season.
A dry, moderately cold winter lies behind us. Temperatures remained low until early April, delaying budbreak by about two weeks compared to the previous year – a welcome development. Spring brought regular rainfall, allowing the vines to grow vigorously. The cover crops we sowed in early April also germinated well.
Then, in early May, a brief moment of shock: late frost. In the lower-lying terraces, there was some minor damage. Fortunately, nothing like the previous year, when we lost around 50% of the harvest. As the month progressed, conditions remained dry – a relief for plant protection and ideal for a smooth and even flowering in mid-June. June, with almost no rainfall, also brought the first heatwave of the year, further intensifying the already extreme drought. In the young vineyards, we proactively cut back the cover crops significantly to avoid drought stress in the vines.
And then came the unexpected shift: in July, the weather changed completely. Suddenly, it turned unusually cold and very rainy. It felt like rain showers passed through the Kamptal almost daily. Over 130 liters per square meter fell. This brought noticeable relief to the vines and nature, but also posed a challenge for plant protection. On some nights, temperatures even dropped below 10 °C. As a result, the development of the grapes slowed significantly. For us, this was a positive sign: a later harvest, a longer and slower ripening period, improved aroma development, and the preservation of pleasant natural acidity.
A severe storm with hail and heavy rain abruptly ended this cool phase at the end of July and marked the beginning of the second heatwave of the year. In early August, temperatures rose sharply for about a week, reaching up to 36 °C. The hail-damaged berries dried out quickly as a result. Plant protection measures were completed by early August as sugar ripeness set in.
We are now preparing for the most intense and beautiful time of the year. Nature has set the stage perfectly, and we are ready to make the most of it!
