Fall and wine harvest. Fall here in the Pfalz since a few weeks with daytime temperatures of up to 27 C and lots of sunshine. Late summer is a better term.
The harvest though started record early, due to a long period of rain and too high overall humidity. Grapes started rottening, which is a serious problem for the late ripening sorts such as Riesling. If the phenolic ripeness isn’t given yet, all the vintner can do is to cut out rotten clusters and hope for the better. But since the weather has stabilized, the damage might be controllable.
However, the early varieties have all been brought in by now and every village sells loads of Federweißer. Ortega and Müller-Thurgau are some of the common wines to drink as must or just slightly fermented. The younger the sweeter it tastes, which is the danger within. It looks and tastes like unfiltered grape juice, but the alcohol will teach you a lesson, if you had too much. But, that is something every one learns somewhere in time… However, the yeasts are active, so one will benefit from not too tight fitting clothing.
A real delight to serve with the new wine are roasted chestnuts or/and onion tarte.
Cheers,
Heike
