Wine Knowledge
It's that time again – the grapevines are in bloom, the air is thick with pollen, it smells and shines white, and even on long summer nights, the vineyards shimmer in their glory in the moonlight. This is our favorite month at the winery, despite pollen allergies and a lot of hard work.
Because now things are really getting busy! The countdown has begun, because from the start of flowering, there are exactly 100 days left until harvest. This year, 2026, we were spared the nail-biting suspense – due to the cold spring, the buds did not unfurl too early and came through the late frosts and the "Kalte Sophie" (Cold Sophie) in early May unscathed, which really caught us off guard with its icy grip this year. But the buds were still wearing their woolly coats and were thus able to defy the weather with their chins held high.
Now it's warm & bright, wonderful! We are working with people & machines in the vineyard, raising the canopy walls and yes, we are also carefully and selectively beginning the first pest control measures, especially against powdery mildew, our arch-nemesis. Here’s some background information on that:
One of the world's most popular wines originally grew wild and uncultivated in southwestern France or the Loire Valley – and that's how it got its name – because "sauvage" means "wild" in French.
Our personal story with the "wild white" began with the 2012 vintage... because at that time we bought the vineyards of another winery here in Weyher and thus came to Sauvignon blanc like Mary to the child. That was an exciting thing, because we have known Riesling since 1788, but Sauvignon blanc was completely new territory for us. So how should we best deal with this new and unknown baby?
There are places in Germany where it rains constantly. Okay, that's an exaggeration. But if it rains anywhere in the surrounding area, it's guaranteed to rain there. And sometimes you even see it (especially beautifully on a country road): As if drawn with a string, the part of the road behind you is soaking wet, and the part of the road still to come is bone dry. You look up at the sky in amazement and wonder who cut off the clouds. At least if you're new to the area. Those who have lived there longer shrug their shoulders and say that it's often like that at this spot.
In the past, people meticulously observed natural conditions and then adapted:
Our on-site wine tastings show it again and again: Many people are afraid of Riesling. "Such sour stuff" is the comment we hear when people dare to tell us their opinion honestly. But then they take the first sip. Their eyes widen, their eyebrows go up... and their opinion changes fundamentally within seconds. And when they have tasted (almost) all our mature, balanced, versatile single-vineyard Rieslings after a few hours, they are absolutely thrilled.
Therefore, we would like to make you a very special offer today:
When the whole world smells of blossoms, you're either in love – or in Weyher. Because the grapes have begun to bloom ! The delicate scent envelops us and enchants us anew every year. This year, it's a little later than usual – the beginning of the year was cool. But this is actually our "normal" continental climate... as it was twenty years ago.
But no matter when the blossoms begin, the bees and bumblebees are thrilled. Every year, we receive a visit from a queen , who is placed in the vineyard with a small entourage of worker bees and her hive. For many years, good friends who are experienced beekeepers have been responsible for the royal arrival. The bees then only have to fall headfirst into the blossoms to find their nectar. A life of paradise, truly! If the bees are full of energy, they can also fly to the chestnut trees that bloom not far from the vineyards...
