Austria’s winegrowers expect an average wine harvest. It could be even better if the weather holds up in the coming weeks, said the President of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, Johannes Schmuckenschlager, at a press conference in Vienna yesterday.
The winegrowers expect 2.4 million hectoliters and assume that the higher production costs can be passed on to consumers through price increases. “The good demand for Austrian wine at home and abroad is also reflected in the keen interest of buyers on the grape market. This should cover the additional production costs,” said Schmuckenschlager.
However, no extreme, speculative increases or doublings as in other areas are to be expected.
The year was characterized by mixed weather, the start went well with late budding at the end of April, as this provided protection from the impending danger of late frost. According to Schmuckenschlager, difficulties then arose due to the heavy rain in the middle of the flowering phase and the subsequent drought. “On the whole, however, the winegrowers had it very well under control,” said the association president.
He assumes an “intensive” and short main harvest from mid-September. Quality expectations are high. “Harmonious” and also “strong” wines are expected, says Schmuckenschlager.
Source: Nachrichten
