The quality is top, the quantity low - this is how the 2025 vintage can be described for Rheinhessen in a nutshell. Lovers of Rhine-Hessian wines can look forward to aromatic Rieslings and Burgundies, as well as making plenty of discoveries. Here you can find all the information on why the new vintage is so promising, how it was created and why it is already worth taking a closer look at the 2025s.
Little capricious weather and early start to the harvest
When looking at the sugar content measured in the grapes at the end of August, winegrowers in Rheinhessen had to pinch themselves this year. Nobody had expected ripe grapes so early. Quite a few winegrowers were still on their well-earned vacations when the unexpectedly early start to the harvest approached. The weather this year had been rather average overall: Spring took its time and was slow to get going, the region was largely spared late frost, it only got really hot at the end of July and in August - and there was plenty of rain. Only in southern Rheinhessen did hail strike in mid-July, causing major damage to the still unripe grapes in places. All in all, the weather was more or less unremarkable. However, as early as mid-August, there were signs that the grapes had only been waiting for the late summer heat - and began to ripen at record-breaking speed.
„Well done to those who started the harvest early,“ said Jens Göhring, President of the Rheinhessen Winegrowers„ Association, summarizing the situation. Depending on the location, the starting shot was fired at the end of August to the beginning of September - much earlier than expected. And as many varieties ripened at almost the same time, an autumn harvest began in fast motion. “It was a turbo fall, after three weeks everything was over,„ says Andreas Hattemer from the Kronenhof winery in Gau-Algesheim. Good organization and nerves of steel were required, with very short nights included. The organic winegrower harvested his Frühburgunder grapes on August 31. “The must weights were gigantic," he recalls - impressed by the exceptional quality. However, the winegrowers had to keep an eye on the must weights. Because the riper the grapes, the higher the alcohol - and that required a sure instinct and precise timing.
Class instead of mass
The winegrowers were rewarded for their efforts with grapes that were as flawless as they had been for a long time and with musts that came out of the wine presses smelling wonderful. A promising foretaste of aromatic wines with balanced acidity. The only downer: the quantity was surprisingly low. The Rheinhessen wineries were able to harvest around 20 percent less than average. But the quality is impressive: „The musts and first young wines impress us with their aromatic depth and bright tension,“ says Johannes Hasselbach from the VDP wine estate Gunderloch in Nackenheim, pleased with the promising vintage.
White or red?
The red varieties in particular are already showing enormous potential. Even if the current trend is clearly towards white wine, 2025 could be an insider tip vintage for red wine lovers. The ripeness of the grapes and the dense aromas suit them perfectly. But the white varieties are also strong: above all Burgundy - whether white or gray, and Chardonnay anyway. Riesling, on the other hand, had to struggle a little towards the end of the harvest: a week of rain in the middle of the harvest required particularly strict selection. „More hand-picking was necessary than expected,“ reports Andreas Hattemer. But here, too, the effort was worth it: sweetness and acidity in aromatic balance give hope for great Rieslings.
And: lovers of residual and noble sweet wines in particular are likely to get their money's worth in 2025. Healthy grapes, high ripeness, stable acidity levels and small quantities - ideal conditions for Prädikat wines from Spätlese to Beerenauslese. And because there were already a few days of permafrost with temperatures below seven degrees in November this year, the cellars have been stocked with wines for a long time. Ice wines, a delicious and long-lasting rarity that promises a very special treat with its wonderful combination of sweetness and acidic freshness.
Recommendation: What does the new vintage offer?
For wine lovers and connoisseurs, the 2025 vintage in Rheinhessen brings ripe and aromatic white wines with a fruity, intense style to the glass. Thanks to the good acidity structure, they are fresh and lively - perfect for enjoyment in spring and summer.
Collectors will also get their money's worth: Burgundy in white and red are likely to show maturity potential, supported by concentrated fruit and a clear structure. However, due to the small harvest quantities, many of these wines could sell out quickly. The wines from the Erste Lagen will not come onto the market before May 2026, the Great growths even in September - until then, it is worth taking your time to discover the vintage and gather your first impressions.
A tip: Many wineries offer a series of tastings in spring where the new wines are presented. Under the heading „Rheinhessen blossoms“, there is an overview of events, culinary promotions and spring offers relating to the new vintage - ideal for exploring the diversity of the new vintage early on.
