Of the frosts there is no doubt—what is yet unknown is the extent of the damage.
“We will know more once the insurance companies’ damage assessors have completed their inspections of the vineyards,” explains a wine commissioner from the Pfalz.
It is already clear, however, that many German wine-growing regions have been affected. Notably, the frost was airborne rather than ground level, which is particularly treacherous since the vines were already unusually well-developed this season.
Vereinigte Hagelversicherung (an insurance company specialising in hail) is currently working on a more detailed picture. A spokesperson said that the insurance company has received damage reports from across Germany and estimates the wine industry damage at roughly €500m.