Drought brings Vienna grape harvest forward by two weeks

Vienna’s main grape harvest will begin about two weeks earlier than usual because of drought, ORF reported. The traditional harvest ceremony with Mayor Michael Ludwig of the Social Democratic Party took place on Monday in the front garden of Haus Schwarzenbergplatz, marking the symbolic start of the city’s harvest.

“It has been a very challenging and exceptional year, one we have never experienced before,” said Elmar Feigl of the Vienna Chamber of Agriculture. Dry conditions accelerated the growing cycle, he said.

Some early-ripening varieties have already been harvested. The main harvest will now focus on traditional Vienna wines such as Grüner Veltliner and Gemischter Satz, as well as Burgundy varieties including Weißburgunder and Chardonnay. Riesling will be picked somewhat later.

The drought has reduced the amount of water in the grapes, increasing their sugar content. As a result, the grapes ripened earlier and became sweeter, making an earlier harvest necessary.

Vienna’s winegrowers are increasingly using artificial irrigation. Feigl estimates that about one-third of the city’s cultivated vineyard area is irrigated. Drip irrigation uses very little water and allows it to be applied efficiently, he said.

Stammersdorf has had an irrigation cooperative for many years. In Döbling, more growers have started installing irrigation systems over the past two or three years. Feigl said the process was ongoing, with more businesses planning or installing systems.

Feigl said the financial damage could not yet be reliably quantified, but significant losses were certain, particularly compared with the previous year, which had been very good.