Despite a though start to the year marked by late frosts and rainy weather, winegrowers remain hopeful and expect this year's yield to be of high quality.
This spring, the weather was not particularly kind to Luxembourg's winegrowers, as late frosts and persistent rain marked a challenging start to the year.
Bernard Karl, the technical director of the Domaines Vinsmoselle cooperative, reflects on these difficulties faced: "This year has been quite complicated. It began in the winter, and then we had spring frosts and a lot of cold weather. The weather conditions were far from ideal, and the winegrowers were challenged."
Fungal diseases were also added to the equation, and rapidly became a concern for winegrowers. Producers were thus forced to use plant protection products, a costly and time-consuming necessity. "In challenging years like this, we must do everything to protect the plants and ensure the production is secured; otherwise, everything is ruined", stated Guy Krier, President of the Private Winemakers Association.
Despite the tough start, there is optimism as the summer progresses. Krier continues: "The vineyards look wonderful. In this beautiful summer weather, we can see our grapes gaining in sugar content each day. The grapes that have survived are in excellent condition." Although this year's yield is lower than usual, the quality of the harvest is expected to be high.
To bring in this year's harvest, around 800 seasonal workers are needed. The process of hiring these workers has recently been simplified, much to the relief of the Wine Institute. Christopher Simon, an advisor at the institute, noted that they are well-prepared: "We have a mix of pensioners from Luxembourg and workers from Poland and Romania. It's important that we operate within the EU, as it makes the hiring process much easier."
The harvest is expected to begin in the third week of September.
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