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What a year we’ve had! As always, Mother Nature keeps us on our toes, but this year has been truly remarkable.

 

We started with an excess of rain—12 inches in June, to be exact—which brought lots of foliage, wetness, and even a bit of fungus. It had every grape grower in Wisconsin concerned. But after that rainy spell, we entered a perfect drought. From mid-August through September, we had no rain, just beautiful, sunny days that allowed the fruit to ripen fully, bringing exceptional color and flavor.

For once, we were fortunate to experience both quality and quantity. Unlike other years, there was no frost, and for the first time in a long while, we had zero crop loss. However, not everyone was as lucky—some growers were unable to harvest due to hailstorms, poor pollination from earlier rain, or damage from the conditions.

At our Wollersheim vineyard, our team responded to the challenges with incredible dedication. We did a lot of combing, leaf removal, and trimming, which allowed the vines to soak up the sun and produce high-quality grapes. The yields were higher than we’ve seen in recent years, running 4 to 7 tons per acre, with sugar levels still reaching 22-23%. It’s too early to declare the final vintage quality, but it’s looking to be an exceptional year.

While we celebrate a successful harvest, the industry continues to face challenges, with a global decrease in wine, beer, and spirits consumption. But we’ve always adapted, and we will continue to do so.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to enjoying our wines. Here’s to a vintage that promises to be one of the greats!

 

Click here to view our most recent podcast episode with Philippe and Céline – Harvest Wrap Up Episode