Overview

• By late afternoon the thermometer hovered near 30°C as crowds in light summer clothes filled the festival mile.
• The program centered on Saturday's Weinfest with a related Lese scheduled for Sunday.
• Winemaker Michael Mitzschke, 65, called it probably the warmest edition and said he has attended virtually all 33 festivals.
• Mitzschke and partner Matthias Lang tend about 600 vines near Hoflößnitz, replanted in 1989 after winter losses, yielding up to roughly 800 bottles in a typical year from Riesling, Traminer and Sauvignon Gris.
• Reporting highlighted thousands of visitors and a “besondere Gemütlichkeit,” including contributions from veteran growers and long-time glass cleaners.