1986 vintage guide for Germany

drink now

A large vintage of sound and reliable quality

2/5

Weather Conditions

The budding was very late to start in early May and the flowering took place in late June. A hot July parched the soil and, as a result, light rain in August rain was only able to give slight relief to the vines. A cold and wet September further delayed the ripening of the grapes, but fine weather during the vintage allowed the growers to make wines of good average quality.

Best Appellations

That was the general picture for the northern regions of Mosel/Saar/Ruwer, Nahe and some of the Rheingau, where good Kabinetts and Spatleses were the norm, with few Ausleses and above. However, further south, especially in the Pfalz, the hot weather continued through September and the lovely autumn encouraged botrytis and allowed great Ausleses, Beerenausleses and Trockenbeerenausleses to be made with the relatively high acidity which guaranteed a long and slow development in bottle.

Best Producers

The top Pfalz Rieslings of von Buhl, Basserman-Jordan and Burklin-Wolf were outstanding as were those of von Schornborn in the Rheingau and Juliusspital in Franken. Fine Eisweins were picked on Christmas Day!