The Art of Riesling on the road

I’ve been on the road a lot lately – Rheinhessen, the Pfalz, Franconia, the Rheingau, Mosel, Saar, Ruwer. And everywhere, the same message: It hasn’t been this calm, this controlled, this normal in ages. A strong start in spring gives you tailwind for the rest of the season. But – and here’s the catch – that’s all it is for now.

Let’s be honest: there’s still a long way to go before harvest. June has already shown how quickly things can shift – heavy downpours, sudden heatwaves, even sunburn on the berries in some spots. And the hottest weeks? Still to come.

So what does it take to make a truly legendary vintage?

More than just a solid spring. Much more. You need a summer that’s warm but not scorching. Cool nights to preserve aroma. Rain – but at the right moment. And a golden autumn that holds steady until the grapes are picked. Dry, but not too dry. Warm, but not too hot. A balancing act. A tightrope walk along the edge of climate extremes.

Look back: 1959, 1971, 1975, 1990, 2001, 2015, 2019 – vintages that became legends. Why? Because everything clicked. Nature, humans, timing – all in perfect sync. And the wines still tell that story years later. No hype, no marketing myth – just quality, loud and clear. 2025? We’re not there yet. Not even close.

Me, personally? Over the years, I’ve developed a soft spot for the cooler vintages. 2004, for example. Or more recently: 2021. Sure, these wines can come across as harsh, edgy, even a bit closed in their youth. But give them time – and they open up like few others. Precision, freshness, longevity. Not showy opulence, but real depth and substance. Once you’ve experienced that in the glass, you know: true greatness doesn’t always show itself right away.

So

no, calling it a “vintage of the century” isn’t just premature – it’s nonsense. Promising? Yes. Lots of potential? Absolutely. But whether 2025 will truly be great will be decided in August and September – not in May.

What stands out, though: winemakers are ready. They’ve learned from the recent vintages. Many are working with more flexibility, more precision, reacting faster. And that could be worth gold come autumn – literally.

As for me, I’m cautiously optimistic. And looking forward to what’s next. Because Spring 2025 has done something rare: it’s sparked hope. And maybe, just maybe, that’s already its biggest achievement.