Wine history is being rewritten: return to the roots in Kitzingen!

Wine history is being rewritten: return to the roots in Kitzingen!

There is a lot going on in the world of wine growing at the moment. Martin, who returned to the winery in Kitzingen after years in fine dining in Frankfurt, has realized his dream of growing organic wine. It is reported that the idea came about during the Corona pandemic in 2021, when the restaurant where he worked had to close. Despite initial skepticism from his critics, who accuse him of never really learning how to grow wine, Martin, together with his sister Valeska, tackles the challenge of making his parents' winery flourish again. In the second year, however, misfortune in the form of hail hits the vines and half of the yield is lost. Nevertheless, Martin is not discouraged and is determined to rebuild.

There is an equally inspiring trend in the neighborhood. Tim Höbel also returns to his parents' farm near Burghausen. With a new perspective, he wants to restructure the business and relies on animal-supported agriculture. He breeds cold-blooded horses and will be selling foals for the first time in his life. His wife Lizzy, who is passionate about horses, also takes over her mother's “Bindlweber” farm in the neighboring town. Here she can look back on a long farm tradition of over 400 years and write a new chapter for the family.

Sustainable viticulture is becoming increasingly important

The return of young winemakers like Martin and the activities of the Clauss family in Ostfildern underline the trend towards sustainable wine cultivation. Paul Clauss, 23 years old, looks after a vineyard with Riesling, Pinot Noir and Muskatrollinger on 8 hectares. The business, which has been revitalized by the Clauss family since 2017, now receives organic certification and offers a farm café and wine bar to promote contact with customers. Above all, it is the minimal hail damage and the healthy vines that give hope for a good harvest.

The Clauss family is also pursuing intelligent strategies to address the challenges of climate change. The agriculture portal is an expert in this field, pointing out the risks of late frosts, extreme heat and heavy rain. These factors can jeopardize wine production. In order to counteract these adversities, fungus-resistant varieties (PiWi) and adapted cultivation strategies are being promoted. The cultivation of red wine is increasing, which is also reflected in the growing popularity of varieties such as Merlot and Pinot.

A time of change for the wine industry

It is becoming increasingly clear that viticulture is changing. Grape ripening has accelerated due to climate change: where the harvest used to take place in mid to late October, the time is now often advanced to the end of September. Young winemakers who not only bring with them craftsmanship but also innovative ideas are in demand to give the industry new impetus. The risk of erosion is taken into account by sustainably growing grass and clover between the vines.

The approaches of winemakers like Martin and Paul Clauss are crucial for the future of viticulture and show that new paths can be taken even in times of crisis. These new developments will have a lasting impact on the wine landscape in Germany and are a sign of hope for an industry that must adapt to the new circumstances.

For more information on the challenges facing viticulture and effective adaptation strategies, see articles by ARD media library, Teckbote and Agriculture.de.