Classic — or even average — weather patterns are increasingly rare nowadays on the 50th degree of
latitude in the northern hemisphere. We are instead experiencing more frequent bouts of extreme
weather, and in particular precipitation, against a backdrop of rising average temperatures.
January and February 2023, for example, both ran very mild and very dry again. While March was
relatively mild and April relatively cool, spring was dominated largely by changeable weather and
frequent rainfalls through mid-May.
We nevertheless observed bud break on April 20, right around the 30-year average.
If the first part of May was too cold, the second half of May proved much warmer. June and July
were marked by heat and dryness. Fortunately for us, the forest above our Kiedrich vineyards serves
as a crucial water reservoir, ensuring the vines have the moisture they need thanks to natural diffusion.
While bud break came right on schedule, blossoming actually arrived a week earlier than anticipated
and ran smoothly.
August was framed by extreme amounts of precipitation, with the outstanding water drainage of
the Kiedricher Berg’s phyllite soils serving the vines well.
Seen as a whole, we were able to keep the vineyards marvelously healthy, not least thanks to the
ecological viticulture practiced at Weingut Robert Weil. Ripening began around August 10, a good
week before the well-established standard.
Our greatest success came in preserving grape health despite extended hang times, which is a
defining element for grand cool climate wines.
The Kiedricher Berg played again a major role in this; we winegrowers can only harness, never
surpass, the quality potential that is naturally present.
We in the Rheingau also had the tremendous good fortune to be spared the heavy rains and hail
that affected some other winegrowing regions.
Given all of the challenges associated with 2023, we cannot help but be tremendously grateful
for the ceaseless dedication and expertise of our team, which ultimately delivered perfectly ripe
and healthy grapes.
The grape quality, taste, and aromas of the musts and young wines point towards an excellent
vintage — running from the estate-level Gutsriesling to the village-level Ortsriesling and Erste and
Grosse Lagen wines.
Thanks to a dose of courage, patience, and hard manual labor, we also brought in grand residually
sweet Spätlese and Auslese wines – including, in late October, the highly coveted, raisin-like grapes
for a Trockenbeerenauslese. While only a tiny volume, that TBA represents the 35th year in a row
that we have brought in the entire spectrum of quality levels.