A considerable number of Rheingau wineries are currently converting to organic viticulture.
From the point of view of the state government, this is a highly desirable development.
The organically cultivated vineyards will soon skyrocket significantly.
After three uncomplicated wine years in a row, autumn 2021, which was extremely difficult in terms of plant protection, clearly demonstrated to these winemakers the economic risks associated with not using conventional plant protection products.
Organic vintners who rely largely on copper supplements to keep dangerous fungal diseases in check in the vineyard cannot afford to be negligent when it comes to plant protection.
The year 2021 brought organic viticulture to its limits in this regard.
In some rows of vines even complete crop failures were observed.
The Geisenheim scientists get the winemakers in the mood that the weakening jet stream favors extreme weather conditions and that the wine years with severe infection processes could pile up.
In this respect, climate change is just as daunting as the goal of climate-neutral economic activity.
The possibilities of fungus-resistant varieties
Organic winegrowers have a particularly difficult time in this regard because they achieve lower yields per hectare and because - especially in years like 2021 - they have to be out and about in the vineyards with tractor and sprayer more often than their conventionally working colleagues in order not to endanger the harvest . The road to reconciling organic viticulture with the most climate-neutral viticulture possible will be a rocky one.
One possibility for the winemaker would be to take a closer look at the cultivation of fungus-resistant varieties. They have to be sprayed significantly less often, which is good for the climate. But before wine lovers decide on Allegro instead of Pinot Noir and prefer to drink Saphira instead of Riesling, a lot of water should still flow down the Rhine. However, there are not too many instruments in the tool box for climate-neutral viticulture. The industry is therefore watching with excitement how serious the new traffic light alliance in Berlin is with its climate protection strategy.
It cannot be ruled out that the subject of bottle deposit will soon become virulent, because the one-way glass bottle is a mortgage for the ecological footprint of every winery.
Because of the difficulties with the logistics and the aesthetics of the bottle, so far only a few wineries have dared to openly discuss the subject of returnable bottles.
But how do the winemakers want to explain that when it comes to wine, what is taken for granted with beer and mineral water is absolutely impossible?
Politicians will insist on a convincing answer.