Wine industry faces obstacles: CDU in Mainz advocates for harvest rotation, German government implements minor adjustments at wine conferences

In recent developments, the German wine industry finds itself at a critical juncture, with declining consumption, concerns over grape must sales, and the looming challenges of bureaucracy and lack of young talent. However, there is a glimmer of hope as the new Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer (CSU), and the CDU party have taken steps to bolster the industry.

Last week, Minister Rainer hosted a "Wine Summit" in Berlin, emphasizing his support for the wine industry and his intention to work closely with the federal states and in Brussels for "quick, practical solutions." The minister's sentiments were echoed by the Rhineland-Palatinate member of the Bundestag and CDU General Secretary, Jan Metzler, who spoke of a "course change" in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, highlighting the importance of winegrowing in Germany as an economic factor and cultural asset.

In response to the industry's plight, the CDU party has brought an 9-point immediate program for strengthening the industry as a motion to the state parliament. This program includes measures such as a fallow period for winemakers, changes in reporting requirements, and seasonal workers' employment, as well as the demand for increased support for the wine industry. The CDU opposition in Mainz has also brought the topic of the crisis in German viticulture to the state parliament, with main demands being crop rotation and special loan programs for winemakers.

The 2025 wine harvest is currently in full swing, with winemakers expecting another outstanding vintage. Despite this promising news, many winemakers are still concerned about having no buyers for their grape must, particularly bulk wine producers who supply large wineries. To address this issue, the federal government has announced that it will finance an information campaign with up to one million euros to promote German wine.

In an effort to boost sales of regional wines, the association "Friends of Agriculture" has launched a campaign with the slogan "Buy Wine!" The association, which is calling for increased support for the wine industry, states that winemakers are on the brink due to declining sales figures, bureaucracy, ever stricter regulations, and lack of young talent. They are urging people to buy wine directly from winemakers in the region.

As the wine industry navigates these challenges, there is a sense of unity and determination among stakeholders to find solutions and secure a sustainable future for German wine. With the CDU's initiatives and Minister Rainer's focus on the industry, there is hope that the German wine sector will weather the storm and emerge stronger than ever.

Wine industry faces obstacles: CDU in Mainz advocates for harvest rotation, German government implements minor adjustments at wine conferences