1997 vintage guide for Germany

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A good vintage in every German wine growing region

4/5

Weather Conditions

Late frost in April, difficult rainy conditions at the time of the flowering in June and localised hailstorms all caused problems. However, great heat in August and a warm and sunny September literally “dried up” all diseases on the vines and compensated for the difficult start. Apart from a frost at the time of the Riesling vintage, the weather held and the top estates continued to pick until the second half of November. Their reward was a very small vintage of wonderfully ripe grapes with little botrytis, resulting in wines with ripe fruit and a high level of acidity.

Best Appellations

Perhaps the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer produced the most sensational Rieslings in 1997 but the Rheingau, Pfalz and Nahe also made a small but exquisite vintage. Franken (Silvaner, Riesling and the burgundian varieties) also rejoiced in this great vintage. Baden had a plethora of very rich wines (up to 15% alcohol!) that often lacked acidity and structure and Wurttemberg had an average vintage.

Best Producers

With their Rieslings the most famous estates of the Mosel/Saar/Ruwer excelled in this vintage: Karthauserhof, Fritz Haag, Egon Muller and von Schubert. In the Rheingau, Robert Weil in the Pfalz, Burklin-Wolf, in Rheinhessen, Keller were all outstanding. In Baden, yet again Bercher and Dr. Heger made outstanding Grauer Burgunders.