{
  "id": 1230933,
  "title": "Heat is on as German winegrowers struggle to protect vines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/heat-is-on-as-german-winegrowers-struggle-to-protect-vines",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-16T08:05:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Local Germany",
    "slug": "the-local-germany",
    "url": "https://www.thelocal.de/20260816/heat-is-on-as-german-winegrowers-struggle-to-protect-vines"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Europe experiences another heatwave, German winegrower Florian Weingart is taking various measures to protect his vines and ensure a decent crop. With a historically hot summer and low rainfall, Weingart has scattered straw across his vineyard in the village of Spay to trap moisture in the earth and shield his prized vines from extreme temperatures. The harvest is uncertain, as the river has dropped to record lows, causing vineyards to struggle with insufficient irrigation and shrink their yields.\n\nFlorian Weingart, who took over the vineyard from his parents 30 years ago, has covered about a third of the six-hectare site with straw. This technique, known as mulching, helps prevent water from evaporating and offers protection against climate challenges. However, Weingart has only recently realized the advantages of straw in dealing with the warming climate.\n\nIn addition to straw, Weingart employs irrigation, which is crucial for his mostly white Riesling vines and some red Spaetburgunder. The vineyard has a piping system spread over 1.85 hectares of vines, which steadily drips water onto the ground around the roots. The system, installed in 2013, is especially important for young vines whose roots are not as deep.\n\nWeingart believes that maintaining healthy soil, with limited weed growth competing for water, is also essential for helping vines cope with extreme heat and drought. He expects the harvest to come in September, earlier than in previous years, but fears that without substantial rainfall, the crop will be poor following the hot, dry summer. Some winegrowers elsewhere in Germany have already started harvesting in mid-August, which is exceptionally early, according to the German Wine Institute.",
  "summary": "As Europe bakes in yet another heatwave, German winegrower Florian Weingart has scattered straw on the ground to keep moisture trapped in the earth and protect his prized vines from extreme temperatures.",
  "key_points": [
    "German heatwave stresses vineyards, low rainfall",
    "Florian Weingart uses straw mulching to retain moisture",
    "Irrigation system crucial for Riesling and Spaetburgunder"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Local Germany",
        "title": "Heat is on as German winegrowers struggle to protect vines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/heat-is-on-as-german-winegrowers-struggle-to-protect-vines-1232523",
        "published": "2026-08-16T08:05:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}