German winegrowers expected the 2026 wine must harvest to reach 8.0 million hectolitres, an increase from 7.7 million hectolitres in 2025. Even so, the projected volume remained 300,000 hectolitres below the average recorded over the previous six years.

The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported the figures in a corrected release on Tuesday, October 13. The agency said the original notice had contained an incorrect year in its seventh paragraph.

Dry and hot conditions kept grapes relatively small and weighed on expected volumes. At the same time, the greater concentration of their components pointed to a potentially good-quality vintage, while no widespread damage had been observed apart from isolated hail events.

Rheinhessen and Pfalz together accounted for 56% of the estimated national crop, with Baden and Württemberg contributing a further 24%. Output was forecast to rise most strongly in absolute terms in Pfalz, Baden and Rheinhessen, while declines were estimated for Mosel, Franken, Ahr, Saale-Unstrut and Saxony. Destatis cautioned that the September 20 assessment remained subject to weather, disease and pest risks.