"Golden Harvest" - Thuringian Winemakers Harvest Ice Wine - Thuringia’s Rare Ice Wine Harvest Yields a Tiny, Precious Crop
Wineries in Thuringia’s Saale-Unstrut region have completed a rare ice wine harvest over the weekend. Freezing temperatures allowed growers to pick grapes at the legally required -7°C, producing a small but highly prized yield. The delicate process marks the final stage of this year’s harvest season.
Bad Sulza Winery collected around two and a half tons of frozen Souvignier Gris grapes at -10°C. The grapes achieved a must weight of roughly 200 degrees Oechsle, meaning about 400 grams of sugar per litre. This high concentration is typical for ice wine, as frozen grapes release far less juice than in a standard harvest.
The harvest will result in a limited number of bottles, each reflecting the intense labour and unique climate needed for ice wine. Prices will reflect its scarcity, with the first bottles likely to reach consumers in the coming months. This year’s early freeze gave winemakers an unexpected advantage in crafting their premium offering.
