The 20th century wine industry: Viticulture

Between 1950 and 1990 German viticulture underwent a dramatic transformation. The area under vine once again expanded steadily, and in the modern era is well over 100,000 ha/250,000 acres. But the most startling development was the increase in yields. At the beginning of the century the average of 20 hl/ha (1.1 tons/acre) was no more than what might have been expected of an abundant vintage in any preceding century. By 1950 that had doubled to 40 hl/ha, and by the 1980s frequently exceeded 100 hl/ha (5.7 tons/acre), although today’s more discriminating growers are cropping less heavily.