It was too good to be true. Across the country on Wednesday, a vintage ripened that winemakers could only wish for. That could have been possible, because hailstorms put a damper on the wine growers around the Kamptal.
According to the hail insurance, up to 600 hectares of agricultural land between Stratzing, Lengenfeld, Langenlois and Straß in the Straßertal were literally destroyed and at least 1,000 to 1,500 hectares damaged. The initial damage estimate is 1.5 million euros. With many grapes almost fully ripe, experts say “whatever is left on the vines” must now be harvested quickly.
But emergency reading will also be difficult. Due to the amount of precipitation, the soil is deep and tractors cannot drive into the vineyards everywhere. “The great euphoria about a vintage that was good in terms of quantity and quality has disappeared. Next week we wanted to read the early varieties. And now we have to prevent the grapes from rotting,” complains winemaker Erich Kroneder.
“If you help quickly, you help twice as much!”
“The hard work of the farmers was destroyed within minutes. The hail insurance company and its experts are already on their way to help winegrowers in this difficult situation. Because if you help quickly, you help twice as much,” says Stephan Pernkopf, vice president and chairman of the farmers’ association. He speaks of an “absolutely tragic situation for the affected wine growers”. But you don’t have to worry about the wine in Lower Austria. “There will be sufficient and very good quality from the 2023 harvest.”
The firefighters were on constant duty mainly in the Krems district, but also in the south of the industrial district. There were several minor floods and mudslides in the Neunkirchen district. By Wednesday afternoon, a massive thunderstorm had already formed over the exchange area.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
